GOVERNORSHIP RACE: Upsets, Surprises loom

C M Y K

2— SATURDAY Vanguard, MARCH 9, 2019

Plateau: PDP Reps-elect raises alarm over INEC result sheets in circulation

Nigerians elect 29 governors, 991 state legislators today

By Emmanuel Aziken, Political Editor

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midst pressure to buck the tide of a bandwagon, voters across the country go to the polls today to elect 29 governors and 991 members of the State Houses of Assembly in all 36 states of the country.

Coming two weeks after the presidential election won by the All Progressives Congress, APC, the momentum on the part of the ruling party is nevertheless being vigorously challenged by the main opposition party, Peoples Democratic Party, PDP in its strongholds.

The political contest is especially fierce in the SouthSouth, Southeast and Middle-Belt strongholds of the PDP. Ahead of today’s election, the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC has promised stronger application of the rules with the proclamation that votes generated outside the use of the card reader would be rejected.

Speaking yesterday

ahead of today’s poll, Mr. Auwal Musa Rafsanjani, head of Transparency International in Nigeria expressed hope that INEC, the election management body would rise to the challenge and ensure that the problems that dogged the presidential and National Assembly elections two weeks ago are checked.

“My expectation is that INEC should be more prepared and able to conduct the elections without logistics problems. We are supposed to learn from the past issues, we are hoping that INEC should be able to organize this election without failure,” Rafsanjani who is also executive director of the Civil Society Advocacy and

Legislative Centre, CISLAC said.

“Secondly we are expecting that security should identify red flag points and deploy to such areas without bias,” he further said.

Elections will also go on in Abuja today to produce council chairmen and councilors in the six area councils.

L-R: Ismail Omamegbe, Head, Corporate Responsibility & Sustainability, FirstBank; Philomena Omolara Oshokoya, Principal, St Joseph Senior Secondary School; Kolawole Sodipo, District Governor, District 9110, Rotary Club; Dr. Basirat Giwa, President Rotary club of Gbagada and Wale Alegbite, a Rotarian of the club during the presentation of a renovated classroom block, supported by FirstBank, to St Joseph Senior Secondary School, Mushin

INEC adhoc officials bargained with politicians to compromise system — Imo REC tells clergymen

By Chidi Nkwopara, Owerri

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ctivities of sabo teurs were largely responsible for the observed pitfalls of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, in the last elections.

The Resident Electoral Commissioner, REC, Imo State, Professor Francis Ezeonu, disclosed this yesterday, when he played host to religious leaders that paid him a courtesy call in his office.

“There were a lot of factors that bugged the last elections. One major issue was security. INEC is not in charge of security. Sometimes, when you go into the field, thinking that you are working with somebody, you would not know that the fellow is serving another person’s interest, and it was a major problem”, Ezeonu said.

While saying that the electoral process was sabotaged several times and places, the Commissioner also said that there were deliberate efforts by politicians to make sure that the Registration Area Camps, RAC, we talked about, did not work.

“Before the elections, we were assured that the Police High Command was going to withdraw all police orderlies attached to individuals, but it didn’t happen. These

people moved from place to place with their orderlies, causing a lot of problems.

These are not things within our immediate control”, Ezeonu lamented.

He recalled with grief that he promised Imo people that voting would start in all polling units at 8am, but this did not happen.

“It may interest you to know that on Friday, before the elections, when we had issued letters to the Supervising Presiding Officers,

SPOs, after awhile, most of them switched off their phones”, the Commissioner told the bishops.

According to the REC, “as soon as some of these adhoc staff got their letters, they moved straight to politicians to bargain”, stressing that some of them sold their letters.

Speaking earlier, the leader of the group, who doubles as the Vice President of Pentecostal Fellowship of

Nigeria, Dr. Cosmas Ilechukwu,urgedINECto“ensure a free, fair and credible gubernatorial and House of Assembly elections”.

The bishops urged the REC to “plug all loopholes that almost messed up the last Presidential and National Assembly elections”.

While assuring INEC staff and the adhoc workers of their prayers, the bishops also appealed to Imolites to come out and cast their votes today.

IPCR urges politicians to channel 2019 election grievances through Election Petition Tribunal

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he Institute for Peace and Conflict Resolution (IPCR) has advised politicians to channels their grievances concerningthe2019General Elections through the constituted Election Petition Tribunal The Ag. Director General of the institute, Mr Bakut Tswah, gave the advice at a news conference for a peaceful Governorship/State Assembly elections in Dutse on Friday.

“Reactions following the outcomeoftheelectionsmust remain constructive.

Ifcontestantsareaggrieved over the aftermaths of elections, there are generally accepted norms in seeking redress.

“We therefore urge

politicians in the country to learn to tread on the path of honour in expressing their pleasures or displeasure.

“We encourage all Nigerians to shun violence and avoid utterances, actions orreactionsthatcoulddisrupt the peaceful processes of the 2019 general elections.

“Election situations call for patriotism and sportsmanship; there are no losers in the actual sense of it. This is because an election is a process through which we select the individuals to bear the responsibility of handling the affairs of our polity for the next four years,” he advised.

The DG commended Nigerians for their high sense of maturity and understanding, as well as

the general orderliness exhibited by voters during the Presidential/National Assembly elections.

“As you are aware, the rescheduled Governorship/ States Assembly and the FCT Area Councils elections will be taking place on Saturday. Nigerians are hoping to build on the feat that was achieved in the last elections.

“I’m happy to note that INEC has promised to improve its performance in thenextelections.Andasyou know, in every human endeavour, there are always rooms for improvement. In this regard, INEC’s disposition is aimed at ensuring that we continue to build on the gains of the past,” the DG said.

By Marie-Therese Nanlong

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HE Peoples Democratic Party, PDP MemberElect for Jos South/Jos East federal Constituency, Plateau State, Hon. Dachung Bagos has raised alarm that few days to the Governorship and House of Assembly elections, results sheets for the Governorship position were already in circulation in the hands of unauthorized persons.

Hon. Bagos, however, called on Independence National Electoral Commission, INEC and the Security Agencies to, as a matter of urgency, investigate the matter and ensure that only true and authentic materials supplied for the Saturday Elections are used.

He also faulted the call for additional security agents in the State saying the authorities failed to so when the state was facing attacks by herdsmen and they needed security men to help save lives.

Bagos who spoke during a press conference in Jos, warned that citizens would not accept any outcome of the elections that is not the voice of the people and cautioned INEC against the practice of holding the people’s mandate hostage.

According to him it is very obvious that the Government in power is desperately nursing evils to forcefully upturn the outcome of the elections to the advantage of APC. “We are worried that the APC is trying to portray that there are impending threats of crises and anarchy in the State during the elections. We received credible information that the State government has asked for a deployment of more security to Plateau State.

“We want the federal government to disregard such request because Plateau is peaceful, and when you hear the heartbeat of a Plateau man you know that they want to vote for PDP. That’s why the Governor is trying to portray that the State is under threat. When people were being killed in large numbers on daily basis why was adequate security not deployed to the state to protect lives and property?

“It is all over on social media that, Lalong has sneaked in result sheets of Governorship elections, and we don’t want to take such issues lightly. We want to warn the State government not to try what it did during the local government election, where results were being collated in various local government but they went ahead to announced winners.”

He said what happened during the Presidential and National Assembly elections where their results were held for days before they were later released has created a lot of suspicion on the credibility of the INEC to conduct free and fair elections.

He called on citizens to be wary of the antics of desperate politicians who want to rig elections and advised them to protect their votes.

Reacting, the INEC Head, Voter’s Education and Publicity, Osaretin Imahiereobo denied knowledge of results sheets in circulation, adding, “we just started the distribution of materials on Wednesday, I’m not sure if they are referring to what we distributed or something else.”

APC rejects Judicial Commission on electoral violence in Bayelsa ...backs deployment of new CP to Bayelsa

By Samuel Oyadongha, Yenagoa

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he All Progressives Congress (APC) in Bayel sa State has lashed out at Governor Seriake Dickson for setting up what it described as a “strange judicial commission” on electoral violence with its members as clear targets.

APC State Publicity Secretary Dofie Buokoribo at a media interactionyesterdayinYenagoaadvisedmembersoftheparty not to have anything to do with the panel.

His words, “Following the Presidential and National Assemblyelections,GovernorDicksonestablishedwhathecalled a Judicial Commission of Inquiry to investigate the violence that marked the exercise.

“Now, Dickson is a major player and beneficiary of the general elections. Yet, he is inaugurating a Commission of Inquiry. This is clearly against the rules of natural justice. A man cannot be a judge in his own case.

“More than that, the general elections were federal elections governed by the Electoral Act. As a matter of fact, they are on the Exclusive Legislative list, the state government has no role to play.

“On these grounds, we reject Governor Dickson’s Judicial Commission of Inquiry. Accordingly, the APC in Bayelsa Statewouldliketoadviseitsmembersnottohaveanythingto do with the commission.

“The Electoral Act has already prescribed the relevant punishment for any offence that has to do with the elections.

“This strange Judicial Commission of Governor Dickson is a witch-hunt with our members as the targets. Under Dickson, our members have always been victims of his needless aggression.

“Finally, we welcome the decision of the Federal Government of Nigeria to increase the presence of the armed and security forces in a number of states, including Bayelsa.''

SATURDAY Vanguard, MARCH 9, 2019 — 3

Guber polls: Wike meets US and British Diplomats

Dickson urges troops not to pander to politicians ...calls on them to sustain integrity of Army

By Samuel Oyadongha, Yenagoa

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OVERNOR Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa State, has called on military personnel deployed to the states of the South South not to pander to the dictates of politicians.

A statement by the Special Adviser Media Relations, Mr. Fidelis Soriwei, quoted Dickson as having urged the military personnel to be focused, professional and be ready to resist intimidation from desperate politicians.

Dickson said the security operatives must be conscious of their responsibility to keep the peace and maintain the conducive environment for the citizens to carry out the civic responsibility of electing their leaders.

He said that the Chief òf Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai, was providing leadership for the Army at a most trying period and should be supported by his commanders and men to sustain the integrity of the service.

His words, “I call on all the security operatives deployed in the states of the South South especially Bayelsa State not to do anything that will undermine the peace and stability of the state. They should treat the people with respect and be firm in adhering to their code of conduct in the performance of their duties.

“The security agencies should create the

conducive environment for the elections to take place smoothly. While there are cases of misconduct, in the last

elections, majority of the security forces have done well.

“They are part of our security architecture

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BUJA — Front-line politician and two time gubernatorial candidate in Rivers State, Prince Tonye T.J.T Princewill has challenged the United States, United Kingdom and European Union to make good their threats to sanction politicians who incite violence ahead of today’s governorship election in the country, especially in Rivers State.

Princewill who was speaking against the backdrop of violent

ivers State Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike yesterday met with the United States ConsulGeneral to Nigeria, John Bray and the Political Officer of the British High Commission in Nigeria, Louis Edwards.

The joint meeting which lasted about one hour, had the PDP National Chairman, Prince Uche Secondus, Deputy Governor Ipalibo Harry Banigo, Rivers State PDP Chairman, Bro Felix Obuah and Senator Lee Maeba in attendance.

The International Diplomats visited Governor Wike on the heels of mass arrests of PDP leaders by security agencies. The Rivers State Government and the PDP have issued several statements alerting the world on the illegal activities of security agencies ahead of the elections.

Governor Wike tabled the concerns of the government and people of Rivers State before the American Embassy and the British High Commission.

At the end of the meeting, the International Diplomats declined comments as they left to continue with the 2019 Governorship and State Assembly elections in Rivers State.

N’Delta agitators serve Army notice on today’s polls

By Emma Amaize, Regional Editor, South-South

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R-L: Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike, United States ConsulGeneral to Nigeria, John Bray and PDP National Chairman, Prince Uche Secondus after a meeting at the Government House Port Harcourt yesterday.

US lawmaker decries Nigeria’s electoral process

By Sam Eyoboka

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NITED States Congressman, Gerald Connolly, has bemoaned manipulation of elections in Nigeria, killings in Syria and the situation in Venezuela which he said were not getting adequate media attention compared to controversial remarks by a new congresswoman.

At an interactive session with constituents from Virginia who paid him a visit on Capitol Hill, the Democratic congressman and member of the Foreign Affairs Committee had been asked questions about Syria,

Nigeria and Venezuela.

Responding to a question from international human rights lawyer, Emmanuel Ogebe who asked what the US was doing about ISIS relocation to Nigeria where they abducted Leah Sharibu and the recent presidential elections which were shambolic, Congressman Connolly said that many observers agree that the Nigerian elections were not credible.

He said that the US must do more and wasn’t doing enough as a beacon of democracy and human rights.

“There were a lot of observers who would agree

Violence: Match your threats with action, Princewill challenges US, UK, EU

By Omeiza Ajayi

because this government places emphasis on collaboration with security agencies to maintain peace and stability.

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altercations among partisans in his native Rivers State during the last elections, however counselled the political class to “shun violence in any form in today ’s election as bad news travels fast and sends the wrong signals about Rivers State”.

He made the call yesterday in Abuja just before departing for Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital for the polls.

“The news in the country on Rivers State is often fashionably negative and we as

leaders can not simply blame it on the media. We all have a responsibility too. While some are fascinated by the headlines, we are the ones who have to suffer the impact of these negative headlines and tarnished reputations”, he stated.

According to him, "without security, the state cannot attract business or create jobs.

"Two Northerners competed keenly for the office of President and it was in Rivers that our people were killing one another."

with you that the recent presidential/National Assembly elections were a sham and were not honest and did not produce legitimate results. Are there enough people who care about that to speak out? ...We have to do a better job of paying much more attention to Africa... Africa is going to be the continent of the future.”

He lamented the activities of Boko Haram, Al Qaeda and other terrorist groups on the African continent and said the US was not paying adequate attention to Africa.

He also raised concerns on growing Chinese influence in the region.

Responding to another question, he said Rep Ilhan Omar’s remarks were not news priority when people are dying in Syria, there’s malnutrition in Venezuela and “Elections are being stolen in Nigeria” .

Congressman Connolly disclosed to the group that the venue of the interactive session was actually the situation room used by congress for intelligence briefings.

Rep Connolly is a Democrat from Virginia who sits on the House Foreign Affairs Committee and the Government Oversight Subcommittee.

CTIVISTS under aegis of 21st Century Youths of Niger Delta and Agitators with Conscience, yesterday, declared Operation Good over Evil in the Niger Delta region, issuing a notice to the Nigerian Army that they would not accept soldiers doing the bidding of any political party in today’s Gubernatorial and state House of Assembly elections.

The youths in a communiqué by self-styled “General” Izon Ebi, issued after an emergency meeting in Ikot Abasi, Akwa Ibom state, to review the just concluded Presidential/ National Assembly polls and today’s polls, said, “We have decided to declare Operation Good over Evil in the Niger Delta region since the Nigerian Army has reduced itself to partisanship and election rigging.”

“We, therefore, use this medium to advise the Nigerian Army to stay clear from our electoral process and concentrate on its mandate of protecting lives, properties and territory integrity of Nigeria.

“The Niger Delta people must be allowed to freely choose their leaders to represent them. We are not going to tolerate the use of the Nigerian Army in any in our election process. We will not tolerate the snatching of ballot boxes and intimidation of our people.

“We condemn the plan of invasion and capture of the Niger Delta states by the APC and the Nigerian Army.

“We, therefore, urge all eligible voters with there PVCs to rise up and come out in their numbers to vote leaders of their choice and defend their votes and democracy.

“The Niger Delta people must reclaim their dignity, history and greatness as a people by coming out en masse to resist this system that would not allow us to peacefully vote our preferred lenders in this 21st century.

Aisha Buhari to APC: Consider card-carrying members for appointments

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ife of the President, Mrs. Aisha Muhammadu Buhari has advised the ruling party, the All Progressives Congress (APC) to consider onlycard-carryingmembersforpoliticalappointments.She made the call at a dinner to celebrate the victory of the President at Daura, his home town last Thursday. The event, which took place at the Daura Stadium attracted women and youth supporters of the APC from across Katsina state.

Mrs. Buhari noted that the constitution of the party specifies that appointments to offices in an APC-led government should go to card-carrying members; she therefore advised that the party constitution should be respected.

She expressed appreciation over the support that the party enjoyed in the last Presidential election, especially from women and youth and assured them that government will do more to improve their lives.

“I wish to thank the women and youth of this country for the number of votes they gave President Buhari in the last presidential election and to assure that he will continue to do his best to make Nigeria a better country.”

One of the speakers at the event, Minister of Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika praised the electorate for choosing President Buhari, whose integrity, he said, is time-tested.

He assured them that the second tenure will result in development in all spheres of endeavor. He commended Mrs. Buhari for her initiative of engaging women and youth during the presidential campaign, which resulted in the massive votes recorded.

Goodwill messages were delivered by many politicians including LeaderoftheAPCWomenandYouthPresidential Campaign Team, Mrs. Binta Muazu, and Senator Fatuhu Mohammed, representing Daura Zone.

4— SATURDAY Vanguard, MARCH 9, 2019

Hoodlums set INEC office ablaze in Akwa Ibom

S-Court okays interim seizure of Patience Jonathan’s $8.4m

By Ikechukwu Nnochiri

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HESupreme Court, on Friday, upheld the interim order that allowed the Federal Government to seize about $8.4million the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, traced to wife of former President GoodluckJonathan,Patience.

In a unanimous decision, a five-man panel of the apex court led by Justice Dattijo Muhammad,declinedtosetaside the order of temporary forfeiture that was issued against Mrs. Jonathan by a Federal High Court in Lagos.

It held that the Court of Appeal in Lagos was right to have affirmed the forfeiture order, saying there was no reason to interfere with concurrent findings of the lower courts.

The apex court dismissed the appeal Mrs. Jonathan lodged before it as grossly lacking in merit, saying she shouldreturnbacktothehigh court to show cause why the seized funds should not be permanently forfeited to FG. AccordingtoJusticeKumai Aka’ahs who prepared the lead judgment of the Supreme Court that was delivered by another member of the panel, Justice Ejembi Eko, “The Appellant is to go back to the trial court to show cause why the interim order should not be made permanent.”

Besides, the Supreme Court refused Mrs.

From Left: Olusola Owonikoko, Programs Associate HACEY, Health Initiative, Rhoda Robson, Executive Director, HACEY, Health Initiative, Ogbonne Mecha, Programme Officer, Nigerian Business Coalition Against Aids, Isaiah Owolabi; Project Director, HACEY Health Initiative and Mary Adeoye, Programme lead, Health Initiative, during the Zero discrimination against people living with HIV, Knowledge Sharing Session, held in Lagos yesterday. Photo: Kehinde Shonola.

Jonathan’s prayer for section 17 of the Advanced Fee Fraud Act and other Fraud related offences Act, which the trial court relied on to order FG to take possession of her seized funds, to be struck down.

It will be recalled that EFCC had on the strength of an ex-parte application and affidavit evidence it filed before the High Court in Lagos State, secured an order that allowed it to confiscate the sum of $8,435,788.84 and other funds in bank accounts it said were traced to the former First Lady.

In the application it filed

pursuant to section 17 of the AdvancedFeeFraudActand other Fraud related offences Act, EFCC, alleged that the funds were suspected to be proceeds of crime and unlawful activities.

Meantime, in a ruling on April 20, 2018, trial Justice Mojisola Olatoregun granted the ex parte order.

The trial court, aside granting the interim forfeiture order, directed the anti-graft agency to make a publication to enable Mrs Jonathan who was cited as a Respondent in the ex-parte application, or anyone interested in the funds, to within 14 days, show cause why the final or-

der of forfeiture should not be made in favour of FG. However, shortly after the order was made, Mrs. Jonathan went before the Court of Appeal to challenge the legal competence of EFCC’s ex-parte application to temporarily take ownership of the funds.

The appellant, through her lawyer Mr. Ifedayo Adedipe, SAN, urged the court to quash section 17 of the AFFA which she said negated principles of fair hearing and presumption of innocence of an accused persons, as guaranteed under section 35 and 36 of the 1999 Constitution, as amended.

...as new Bayelsa CP, 11th in four months, assumes duty

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HEAD of to day’s House of Assembly Elections in Bayelsa State, Governor Seriake Dickson, has urged the Nigeria Police to be assertive as the chief law enforcement agency for maintenance of law and order.

He said, that is the primary role for the police as enshrined in the Nigerian Constitution.

Dickson so advised Thursday night when the 11th Commissioner of Police posted to the state in four months, Mr. Olushola David, led a team of officers to pay him a courtesy call in Government House, Yenagoa.

Constitutionally speaking, he said it is the place of the police to play a major role in all civil matters in the country, including providing security during elections.

ess than 24 hours to the governorship and State House of Assembly election, suspected hoodlums yesterday burnt down office of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Ibesikpo Asuntan local government area of Akwa Ibom state.

Some electoral materials were destroyed in the incident.

Akwa Ibom was among the states that recorded high rate of violence in the presidential and national assembly elections.

Mike Igini, Resident Electoral Commissioner of the state, has visited the scene for assessment. He said the action would not affect Saturday’s elections.

“In the wee hours this morning, I got a call that one of the areas offices has been gutted by fire. So we had to call the fire service, and the DPO around that area,” he told newsmen.

“So they all moved in there, and responded, and there were able to evacuate the entire ballot papers that had been delivered to the local government, intact. But because the storeroom behind the building is very close to the fence, obviously we saw some footprints, because it rained yesterday, it was very clear where they came in through to do the sabotage.

Akpabio withdraws suit against INEC

Don’t allow other security agencies usurp your role, Dickson tells police

By Samuel Oyadongha, Yenagoa

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He stressed that other security agencies only complement the efforts of the police where necessary.

The governor, who assured the new CP of the state government’s support, urged the police to be thoroughly professional in discharging their duties to prevent a re-occurrence of the irregularities that marred the February 23 Presidential and National Assembly polls in parts of the state.

While emphasising the need for institutions and individuals to respect the rule of law, he noted that democracy as well as national unity and stability will continue to suffer setback in the country’s quest for sustainable development if drastic measures are not taken to check the growing lawlessness and impunity.

Dickson, who restated his call on the people of the state to come out en

masse to participate in this Saturday’s House of Assembly polls, decried the attitude of politicians who see election as a door-die affair.

His words: “We expect the police in this state now led by you for this election purposes to play its crucial, primal role and take charge of election security and monitoring.

I have always said that I treat every Commissioner of Police in this state as the Chief Law Enforcement Officer.

All other agencies have to support the police and the CP. “So, as Commissioner of Police in charge of election duties, we expect you to lead and take decisive steps (preventive as well as enforcement steps) to ensure that hoodlums do not hide under the cover of elections to kill, maim and destroy property and destabilise our peaceful communities.

“Nobody should be allowed, no matter how highly placed, to sponsor criminals and gang leaders to foment crisis.

Election is not war. It is not where people arm criminals to constitute a direct challenge of the nation. Under your leadership, we expect that you will take steps to check such criminal acts between now and the election and thereafter.

“The level of impunity displayed by political actors is such that if it is not contained, it will lead to complete disregard of the law, its servants and agencies and even a threat to the existence of the state itself as an organised authority.”

Earlier, Mr Olushola David assured the governor of his team’s readiness to provide adequate security and level playing ground for all political parties and voters to exercise their franchise in the elections.

By Ikechukwu Nnochiri

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ormer Senate Minority Leader, Mr. Godswill Akpabio, on Friday, withdrew the suit he filed to stop the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, from issuing Certificate of Return to the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Chris Ekpenyong, who defeated him in the February 23 Senatorial election.

Akpabio who is currently representing Akwa Ibom North West Senatorial District, lost his re-election bid, after the electoral body, declared erstwhile Deputy Governor of the state, Mr Ekpenyong, as winner of the seat.

INEC, in the result that was announced by the Returning Officer, Prof. Peter Oban, declared that Mr Akpabio who contested on the platform of the All Progressives Congress, APC, polled 83,158 votes, while the PDP candidate, Ekpenyong, garnered 118,215 votes, though the commission cancelled result from Obot Akara area of the constituency.

Akpabio who was a former governor of the state that entered the Senate with the ticket of the PDP before he defected to the ruling APC, had before the result was announcement, petitioned the electoral body, alleging moves by the Akwa Ibom Resident Electoral Commissioner, REC, to validate the voided results.

He subsequently lodged a suit before an Abuja High Court, where he secured leave of the court for an order to restrain INEC from declaring Ekpenyong as the ultimate winner of the senatorial contest.

In the suit marked FCT/HC/M/2680/19 and filed on February 28, Akpabio specifically prayed the court for an order granting him leave, “to apply for a judicial review for the issuance of a writ of Mandamus, prohibition, injunction and other declarative reliefs sought against the respondent (INEC).”

As well as for an order directing the respondent to stay further action “particularly further action in respect of issuance of certificate of return to any candidate in respect of the seat of senator representing Akwa Ibom North West Senatorial district on the account of election held on the 23rd February, 2019.”

The ex-parte application which was supported by an affidavit deposed to by one Daniel Idoko, was argued by Akpabio’s lawyer, Mr. Sunday Ameh SAN. In a short ruling Justice Valentine Ashi, held: “Leave is hereby granted to the applicant to apply for judicial review for the issuance of a writ of Mandamus, prohibition, injunction and other declaratory reliefs against the respondent.”

“Leave granted shall operate as stay of further action of the respondent and particularly in respect of issuance of certificate of return to any candidate in respect of the seat as sought by the applicant”.

He ordered service of the process on the respondent.

Meanwhile, at the resumed proceeding on the matter on Friday, Akpabio applied to withdraw the suit, though he failed to adduce any reason behind the decision.

However, it was learned that the PDP had concluded plans to drag both the Judge and Akpabio who himself is a lawyer, before the National Judicial Council, NJC, for allegedly engaging in judicial misconduct by instituting the action in contravention of legal provisions that mandated dissatisfied candidates to ventilate their grievances at the election petition tribunal.

SATURDAY Vanguard, MARCH 9, 2019 — 5

6—SATURDAY Vanguard, MARCH 9, 2019

RED-HOT EXCLUSIVE

How politicians hijacked INEC adhoc staff – IMO REC

every person is very desperate to go there. But if you remove the icing on it, like it is done in most climes, before you go there, you will definitely ask yourself whether you actually want to do something. People will go into politics for service and not for money.

•‘We were tracking and monitoring them but they later switched off their phones and we couldn’t reach anymore’ •Why security men will continue to pose problem to our electoral system

By Chidi Nkwopara, OWERRI.

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he Presidential and National Assembly elections have come and gone, but some the stories associated with the exercise remain evergreen.

The Imo State Resident Electoral Commissioner, REC, Professor Francis Ezeonu, in this post mortem examination, bares his mind on some of the lapses experienced during the last polls, as well the modalities put in place to check a re-occurrence. Excerpts.

How can you explain the absence of voting materials in Owerri Municipality during the last elections?

It was inexplicable. I received several reports about the absence of voting materials in Owerri Municipal and I moved out immediately to find out why. On getting to the Electoral Officer ’s office, I saw him sitting leisurely and I ordered his arrest.

The arrest order was not for his doing anything extraordinary, but for dereliction of duty. Elections were not going on. There were issues, even at the RAC centres, but he was sitting complacently in his office. So, I took him to some places and he could not account for what was happening and I considered it a sabotage. I said he should be arrested and made to explain later and that was how I took over the operations in Owerri Municipal and this occupied me for the rest of the day, because as at the time this was happening, a lot of things had been muddled up, including the distribution of result sheets.

they were arriving at that unholy hour, they said they were held up in the traffic.

When asked where they lived, their So you suspect an element of sabotage answers did not fully explain why they in the whole thing? should arrive in the same vehicle. It was I agree totally about the issue of sabotage evident that they were dropped by a in a few places, in collusion politician. with our staff. We are Some others sold their investigating those cases. letters of appointment to But largely, the problem politicians!

The came from adhoc staff. politicians in turn, took After issuing the adhoc the letters to their cronies.

Supervising Presiding In some places, the SPOs Officers their letters on did not appear till the Friday, we were in our of the polls. And Situation Room, tracking It was inexplicable. I morning materials had been their movement, tracking packaged for them to go received several what was happening in our and distribute. There was local government offices, reports about the confusion. In some and after awhile, about 90 places, they even absence of voting percent of them switched disappeared! off their phones and we materials in Owerri For the collation officers couldn’t reach them again! also, an appreciable When they realized that we Municipal and I number of them were also were tracking them, they in the same boat. moved out switched off their phones.

One of them returned his We were awake the whole immediately to find appointment letter. When of Friday night, moving he didn’t see me, he sent out why. On getting from one RAC centre to the me a text, stating that other. In a particular to the Electoral immediately we gave instance, at about 12 their letters, all the Officer’s office, I saw them midnight, seven people people who were going to jumped down from a him sitting leisurely the local government got vehicle and I sought to into a particular bus and and I ordered his know who they were. They started heading to said they were SPOs and arrest Concorde Hotel, Owerri. brought out their letters of He asked what they were appointment. Asked why

•Professor Francis Ezeonu

going to do there and he was told that a politician was waiting for them in the hotel. He simply asked to be dropped and the rest continued to Concorde Hotel.

We hired buses to take them to the areas where they would work but they said they had their private vehicles and they could go when they wanted.

In Okigwe, there was the case of somebody, who was caught with fresh N500,000 cash, but at the end of the day, INEC is blamed for all these things. This time, I won’t say what we will do, so that it doesn’t leak. There is no doubt that there was serious sabotage!

Certainly, politicians penetrated them, they lured them, isn’t it?

This question is dicey but the greatest problem we have is the desperation of our brothers who are politicians. We keep on receiving intelligence reports of what will happen on Saturday (today). That the heavens will collapse and that some people will do this or that.

Some of our adhoc staff are already withdrawing. Last Tuesday, we received list of some youth corps members who indicated interest that they no longer want to serve, and this is worrisome.

We will continue to appeal to politicians. The fundamental problem actually lies with our system. If we can de-capitalize political positions, that is making such positions avenues to get rich quick, people will go home and rest. The easiest way to make money in Nigeria is to be a politician and that is why

What’s your assessment of the security arrangement for the Saturday polls?

One thing I always like to do, is to tell myself the truth. The Electoral Law says that security officers who are to participate in the election, should be handed over to INEC, to control. On paper that is what it is, but in reality, it is not, because these security personnel are given command and control.

I don’t want to mention one or two places where we had issues and I called a police officer in the area and told him how a particular thing should be done and he told me: “Oga, that is not the directive I have from my boss.”

This is why the issue of security will of continue to be a serious problem. We keep on discussing but sometimes, you may even realize that the problem is not from the top.

Some of these security personnel, and I hope that I am safe this time, are sent to the field and they decide where to go and make a s more money! I am telling you the truth.

Even when we were posting adhoc workers, some were telling us the local government area where they wouls prefer to work! The colouration that surrounds these things is about money and it is most unfortunate.

So, we have reviewed these things and we want to see how we can track and ensure that the officer you send to a particular place is there.

Honestly, this is a big challenge.

For me honestly, I look forward to the day we can do elections in Nigeria without security, because you keep on getting worried and the law says you cannot go to the polling booth, carrying a gun.

What is more, some of these security personnel wear civilian dresses. So, once these thugs besiege the polling units, they wear civilian dresses and disappear like the others.

So, it is a problem and we all have a role to play, including the politicians themselves, who show high level of desperation.

So, how can we guarantee what will happen this Saturday?

For me, actually, we will combine the re-run polls with the scheduled ones the same day.

It is a lesser evil, because it will save us enormous costs and logistics.

The same people who are coming to vote, are the same people who will come, if you reschedule it.

The only difference is that the number of ballot boxes will increase from two to four. The logistics for organising elections for 91 political parties is enormous. It is no longer the same as when we had a small number.

If you see the enormity of printed materials alone, you will shudder.

Before, we were using Hilux to move materials, but today, we are using trucks!

So, this is part of the problem.

What happens when a Returning Officer announces a result under duress? * The Electoral Law did not envisage this.

When things like this happen, the onus is on the Commission to review it and take a decision.

Yes, you may not have heard any reaction from the Commission. But it does not mean that INEC is not doing something about it. There are certain issues, before you take a decision, you have to look at the provisions of the law, see the windows available to you before coming out with a position.

It is not everything that you react to immediately. The Commission already has the report about what happened.

They will look at it critically and a decision will be reached.

SATURDAY Vanguard, MARCH 9, 2019—7

GUBER RACE:

Upsets, surprise loom •How Governors may emerge

In politics, an ything can happen. Or who w ould ha e President, Dr anything would havve imagined that the Senat Senate Buk ola Saraki, regar ded as political w arlor d and kingmak er in his sstat tat e, Kw ara w ould lose an Bukola regarded warlor arlord kingmaker tate, Kwara would election tto o re turn tto o the senat e? Or Oy o S tat e go biola Ajimobi who could no return senate?

Oyo Stat tate govvernor ernor,, A Abiola nott mo movve his people tto o vvo ote ffor or him tto o go tto o the senat e. Suc hw ere the sur prises that trailed the las senate.

Such were surprises lastt Presidential and N ational Assembly elections. TToda oda y's Go ship and S tat e House of Assembly elections National oday's Govvernor ernorship Stat tate ed tto o be full of sur prises. There are some go nation wide are also e xpect xpected surprises. govvernor ernorss who are seeking expect wer a re-election ffor or second tterm erm but appear tto o ha havve been abandoned in the deser desertt as the po pow erss ore sur viv e the ought them tto o po wer ha and principalities that br therefore surviv vive brought pow havve deser desertted them. Can the theyy theref battle on their own or become casualties?

We w ent rround ound the sstat tat es tto o x-ra hances of some cont ender or the go ship race and went tates x-rayy the cchances contender enderss ffor govvernor ernorship the fact or or k agains factor orss that ma mayy w wor ork againstt their ambitions.

Ola Ajayi, Ibadan, Anayo Okoli , Umuahia, Chidi Nkwopara, Owerri, Femi Bolaji , Jalingo, Wole Mosadomi, Minna, Umar Yusuf, Yola, Peter Duru, Makurdi, David Odama, Lafia, Abdulmumin Murtala, Kano, Ben Agande, Bashir Bello, Aliyu Dangida, Daud Olatunji, DEMOLA AKINYEMI, Olasunkanmi Akoni,

OYO: FFormer ormer go govvernor AlaoAk ala as game changer Alao-Ak Akala As the gubernatorial and House of Assembly elections hold across Oyo State today, the political headquarters of the South West, it has shown from the Presidential and National Assembly elections that the 2019 general elections would spring some surprises.

Before the elections, virtually everyone had concluded that the ruling All Progressives Congress would have a landslide victory over its main opposition. Though, the broom party still made some clear statements through its performance at the polls that it still held sway in the state. While the PDP won the Presidential election by a slight margin, the APC won two senatorial districts and nine out of fourteen House of Representatives seats.

The results woke the APC from its slumber and its erroneous conclusion that it would control the state for long. The PDP, on the other hand, knowing it won by a slight margin, is blocking all loopholes to ensure it regains its lost glory in the state.

The PDP had been relishing on its narrow win believing it would still achieve the feat at today's governorship poll when the bombshell of the defection of a former governor of the state, Otunba Adebayo AlaoAkala was announced. The defection dealt a very big blow to PDP as the former governor was the one that sealed their victory after bringing about 25,000 votes from Ogbomoso North and Ogbomoso South.

His defection which came just three months after he called the APC all sorts of names and left the party, could change the political calculation. APC, also reacted by ensuring that his son, Olamiju Alao-Akala was removed as the local government chairman of Ogbomoso North.

It was just a call from the National Leader of APC, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu that added another twist to the game. To counter the new twist, PDP has wooed parties like Social Democratic Party, African Democratic Congress, Zenith Labour Party and some members of Alliance for Democracy.

APC, apart having former governor AlaoAkala in its kitty still won the heart of a very influential Yoruba group, Yoruba Patriots Movement led by Chief Dosu Oladipo which promised to mobilise 250,000 voters for Chief Adebayo Adelabu.

Unless something is done to change the tide,

•AlaoAk ala •Alao-Ak Akala

•Ikpeazu

the pendulum of victory which still dangles between the two parties may tilt towards the APC. However, if eligible voters in Ogbomoso North and South refuse to do the bidding of Alao-Akala, then it is just a matter of time that PDP will be crowned as the winner of the election.

ABIA: Ikpeazu faces fiercest battle from the APC

UMUAHIA-In Abia State, today ’s governorship battle will be fought among three political parties, PDP, APGA and APC. The state is at present being run by PDP but APGA and APC have intensified efforts to

wrestle power from the PDP. And from all indications the battle, no doubt, will be a tough one for PDP to survive.

Though PDP’s presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar won the presidential polls in the State, Governor Okezie Ikpeazu will definitely face stiff battle from both APGA and APC because of series of criticisms against his administration by the citizens of the state, particularly on the issue of backlog of unpaid pensions and arrears for pensioners and workers of parastatals for several months.

The Government has actually done appreciably well in some areas, such as rebranding the hitherto neglected leather products from Aba, rehabilitating some roads, improving the education and health systems.

The Government has tried various fora to showcase its achievements but the propaganda machine of the opposition against the Government has been very strong.

Another argument put forward by the supporters of Ikpeazu was the issue of equity.

They argue that former governors Orji Uzor Kalu and Theodore Orji, from Abia North and Abia Central, respectively, had two terms of eight years each, hence the need for Abia South, where Ikpeazu hails from to also have eight years. But those who opposed this contended that if equity was to be practiced it had to be all embracing as both Governor Ikpeazu and Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe were from the same council, while the Ugwa axis of the zone have nothing. Indeed the Ugwa people are accusing their Ngwa brothers of marginalizing them. They argued that equity should permeate every aspect of political office. The issue of equity has been the sentiment the PDP and Ikpeazu's supporters are canvassing more than his achievements, hoping to use it to get the support of the people.

But the opposition parties were not swayed by this as they argued that even during the periods of the two former governors, candidates from the other zones contested against them. And from all indications, the fiercest battle against Ikpeazu will come from the APC which surprisingly did very well in the last presidential election compared with its abysmal outing in 2015.

With the influence of Chief Ikechi Emenike, a prominent leader of the party in the State, who moved his Ohuhu people enmasse to vote for Buhari and Prince Benjamin Apugo, another strong member of the party and efforts of other strong members in the area, there is hope that the party will do well in Abia Central today.

And in Abia North zone where the former governor of the State, Chief Orji Uzor Kalu has secured a senate seat on the ticket of APC, with the combined efforts of the party’s chairman, Dr. Emmanuel Ndukwe, both of them from Bende; Reps. Nkiruka Onyejiocha, who also renewed his mandate on the platform of the party, and Uche Ogah, who is still

•Okorocha contesting the governorship ticket with Ikechi Emenike at the Supreme Court, it is hoped that the APC will do well in the zone.

However, the sore area for APC will be in the South zone where Governor Ikpeazu hails from, but like they say, in politics anything can happen.

Another party expected to make good impact in the election is APGA which in 2015 shook the PDP to its foundation. In fact, the emergence of APGA in Abia political scene redefined election in the State with parties now going from village to village to campaign unlike before. Chief Alex Otti, who flew the party's ticket in 2015, is contesting again under the same platform and he still commands a lot of respect in the State. In fact, it appears the PDP had more respect for him than any other candidate. It's deserving for he is a brilliant man.

IMO: Ok or ocha’s legacies Okor orocha’s working against his candidate •Security operatives also take centre stage The gubernatorial election in Imo State, is definitely not going to be a tea party, especially as no fewer than 70 political parties are fielding candidates for the electoral contest.

It must however be said that some of these supposed gubernatorial candidates are either playing the spoilers game or simply seeing the contest as a way of enriching their

Continues on pg 8

8—SATURDAY Vanguard, MARCH 9, 2019

GUBER RA CE: U pse ts, sur prise loom RACE: Upse psets, surprise Continues from pg 7 curriculum vitae.

However, assuming the entire 70 persons are serious, there is the issue of the principle of equity, which the people of Owerri zone have been canvassing for years.

Their argument, which they claim remains valid, is that since the current democratic engineering in 1999, Orlu senatorial zone has had a shot at the governorship seat for 16 years, Okigwe occupied it for four years, while Owerri zone is yet to occupy the seat.

There are strong feelers that this thinking has obviously won some hearts in Orlu and Okigwe senatorial zones, but that is not to say that this is going to be the major determinant of the outcome of the governorship election.

Orlu, Owerri and Okigwe zones have 12, nine and six local government areas respectively, and there are fears that if the charter of equity is jettisoned at this point, one zone may permanently occupy the Douglas House, Owerri.

Another segment of the society, particularly traders who lost their sheds and wares, during the destruction of Ekeukwu Owerri Market and the New Market, those whose ancestral homes were destroyed without compensation and those whose lands were revoked or forcibly appropriated by those in power, are most likely not going to support Governor Rochas Okorocha's son in-law, Uche Nwosu, because they believe that with him, their suffering will continue.

Imo pensioners, who are owed several months of unpaid stipends and civil servants that are paid 30 percent less than their earned salaries, are not likely going to support anybody who has Okorocha's imprint.

Candidates' structure and not necessarily party manifesto, is another determinant. If the Presidential and National Assembly elections are used as parameter, the three most dominant political parties are the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, All Progressives Congress, APC, and Action Alliance, AA. Already, the APC's National Working Committee, NWC, has not only suspended Okorocha, but has also recommended that he should be summarily dismissed from the party! This decision may not be unconnected with his unrepentant support for his son inlaw, who is a candidate of another party, and which is seen as anti-party activity.

Those who are close to the corridors of power, told Saturday Vanguard in strict confidence that the Governor appears very hardened now that his party has suspended him.

Another issue that is likely going to decide where the gubernatorial pendulum would swing, is the emergence of concerned Imo citizens in Diaspora.

One of such strong groups is Owerri Zone in United States of America for Ihedioha. This is an organization of distinguished ladies and gentlemen that are supporting Chief Emeka Ihedioha.

Explaining why they decided to float the group, Mr. Stanley Ozuzu said the crux of democracy is fairness and equity.

"It is fair and reasonable that the next governor of Imo State, should come from Owerri zone. I appeal to Orlu and Okigwe zones to support Owerri zone to produce the next governor, as we have supported them in the past", Ozuzu said.

Answering another question, the American based attorney said that "the best candidate is Chief Emeka Ihedioha and he has been tested and eminently qualified to be the next Governor of Imo State".

While appealing to the citizenry to "come out enmasse to vote for him", Ozuzu also disclosed that their members will either return to cast their votes or get in touch with their relations, with a view to guiding them appropriately. Finally, the way the security agencies would be deployed and the briefs they will get, will determine their roles during the polls.

•Go u •Govv Ishak Ishaku The race to occupy the number one seat in Taraba state has heightened tensions across the state between supporters of the incumbent governor, Darius Ishaku, PDP, and APC governorship candidate, Sani Danladi.

While the odds of who eventually wins the state, favour the incumbent governor, Ishaku, little has been heard of the former minister of women affairs and social development, Aisha Alhassan popularly known as Mama Taraba, who is also vying for the number one seat under the platform of the United Democratic Party, UDP. Danladi, a former ally of Ishaku and former member of PDP while in acting capacity as governor during the 2015 general elections is hoping to alter the agreement of two tenure rotation among the three zones of the state.

What will count for Governor Ishaku as favourite to occupy the number one seat again is the fact that he hails from the Southern zone of the state which still has four more years to rule for equity and fairness among the three zones of the state.

It was believed that the Northern and Central zones have had their terms of eight years each with Reverend Jolly Nyame and Danbaba Suntai and that the South should be allowed to do same.

His closest rivals in the race, Sani Danladi of the APC and Aisha Alhassan of the UDP both hail from the Northern Senatorial zone of Taraba state.

Moreover, the fusion of over 20 political parties infrastructure into the already established ones of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, following Ishaku's endorsement by the Coalition of United Political Parties, CUPP, was a major boost for his reelection bid.

Ishaku who is the political godson and kinsman of a revered elder statesman and former Minister of Defence, Lt. Gen Theophilus Danjuma, will leverage on the influence of Danjuma to secure reelection.

Prompt payment of salaries, introduction of various skill a c q u i s i t i o n programmes, elevation of educational standards in the state among others are major boosters for Ishaku to retain the number one seat in the state.

Imo pensioners, who are owed several months of unpaid stipends and civil servants that are paid 30 percent less than their earned salaries, are not likely going to support anybody who has Okorocha's imprint

TARABA avour Go ARABA:: Odds ffa Govv Ishak u tto o re tain his seat Ishaku retain

NIGER: The generals, the wor kf or ce orkf kfor orce and hist or histor oryy back incumbent ffor or vict or victor oryy

There is a Political Platform on which Niger SThere is a Political Platform on which Niger State had been working with for the past years. The Platform has not changed and it is

Governor-Alhaji Abubakar Sani Bello not likely to change before today's governorship election.

The Platform as far as Political analysts and other relevant stakeholders within and outside the state are concerned, has really brought stability into the Polity of the State in the past years and they prefer it should be sustained.

The most important aspect of the platform is the Zoning formula for the adoption of governorship candidate which was introduced by the People's Democratic Party,(PDP) and has come to stay and which is directly or indirectly dictating the pace for other Political Parties in the choice of their governorship Candidates and other political offices. The aim of the zoning formula is to give room for equity and balancing of political offices among the three political zones in the State.

Between 1999-2007, the zoning system commenced with Zone A or the Nupe speaking areas when late Engineer Abdulahi Kure ruled for two terms of eight years at the end of which it automatically moved to Zone B or the Gwari speaking areas when Dr. Muazu Babangida Aliyu took over the mantle of leadership for another eight years-between 2007-2015.

Though the present administration is not led by the PDP, the Zoning arrangement however dictated where the pendulum of leadership should come from when the All Progressives Congress, (APC) was to pick its governorship candidate in 2015 and zone C which was yet to have a taste of the governorship was considered and this gave birth to the present leadership of Alhaji Abubakar Sani Bello from zone C. He is now seeking a second term in Office.

It is on record that since the zoning system was adopted, all the governors who served have had the opportunity to go for a second term in order not to alter or truncate the zoning formula.

There are 72 registered political parties in the country out of which 32 presented governorship candidates for today's elections.

However, only the All Progressives Congress, ,(APC) and the People's Democratic Party, (PDP) appear to be the front runners for today's governorship election.

The election becomes more dicey for the fact that the two candidates are from the same zone, (C) and are children of retired Generals which has consequently made the political permutation more difficult.

The incumbent Governor-Alhaji Abubakar Sani Bello is the son of Brigadier General Sani Bello,(rtd) who was former Military Governor of Kano State and is highly influential in the state. Not only that, he is married to the first daughter of former Head of State, General Abdulsalami Abubakar.

His major challenger, Alhaji Umar Nasko is the son of former Minister of Federal Capital Territory under General Babangida's regime as Military President. Because of the zoning formula adopted by the PDP, Alhaji Umar Nasko has declared his intention to run for only one term if voted into power in order not to truncate the already established zoning of the state.

The APC is already using this as a propaganda against the PDP for planning to truncate the zoning arrangement as a way of denying zone A of producing the next governor in 2023 in case Nasko of PDP is voted in and doesn't keep his word to gop for only one term.

Influence of the generals

All the influential Military Generals in the state are major Stakeholders in this election as they also have the power to influence the electorate General Ibrahim Babangida who is "father" to all though had left the country few days before the Presidential and National Assembly Elections and he is not due back in the country until after the general elections but he still has his foot soldiers around working for him although nobody would easily know who his preferred candidate is.

General Sani Bello will undoubtedly back his son who is seeking a second term in office while former Head of State, General Abdulsalami Abubakar is also solidly behind his son in-law.

Few days ago, the organised Labour in the state led by Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress, (NLC), Comrade Idris Ndako formally endorsed the incumbent, Alhaji Abubakar Sani Bello for a second term because of his "pro Labour Policies, Programmes and cordial Industrial relationship of the administration since 2015.

The NLC Chairman said the endorsement was also in conformity with the directive from the National leadership of the Congress to align with any governor who is Labour friendly. State Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Teachers,(NUT), Comrade Ibrahim Umar also threw his weight behind the second bid of the governor commending him on his prompt payment of Salaries, Pensions and other entitlements of Teachers in the State.

Since the advent of the present administration in the state, salaries and other entitlements of workers are paid as at when due.

President Buhari's factor Before the last Presidential and National Assembly Elections, it was clear that President Buhari would have a landslide victory in the state and it came to pass. Niger State had never been in the opposition Politically and with the outcome of the Presidential elections recently and for the love the electorate still have for the President, this is likely to play out this Saturday.

Though there are allegations of non performance being levelled against the Sani Bello administration and many voters are said to be waiting for a pay back today, however, it is on record that no incumbent governor had lost in his second term bid. And with the influence of the Generals and endorsement by workforce and other segments of the society and the already established zoning formula history may tend to repeat itself and smile in favour of Alhaji Abubakar Sani Bello after a very fierce battle from Umar Nasko who is also generally loved by the people even if it is going to be with a slim margin.

AD AMA WA: Go alks a ADAMA AMAW Govv Jibrilla w walks tight rope as he embarks on fight of his lif e life Today's governorship election is going to be a battle of former political friends turned foes.

The incumbent, Governor Mohammed Jibrilla Bindow of the APC will be slugging it our with the former acting governor Hon. Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri, of the PDP; Sen. Abdulaziz Nyako, of ADC and Hon. Emmanuel Bello of the SDP which promises to be an interesting political battle.

It could be seen as a battle between a beneficiary and his benefactors and by extension a battle between a political godson (Governor Jibrilla) and his two former political

Continues on pg 9

•Gov Mohammed Jibrilla

SATURDAY Vanguard, MARCH 9, 2019—9

GUBER RA CE: U pse ts, sur prise loom RACE: Upse psets, surprise Continues from pg 8 godfathers ( Nyako and Atiku) Most analysts believe that it will be a tough political battle especially for the incumbent Governor Jibrilla who is seeking a second term against stiff opposition within and outside his party who are all anxiously waiting to teach him a bitter political lesson of his life .Unlike in 2015 when Governor Jibrilla was a beautiful political bride of all who matter in Adamawa politics and the road was smooth and clear for him to pick APC gubernatorial ticket and emerge governor, the situation is no longer the same.

In 2015, the Governor Bindow, without any political structures of his own, rode on Nyako's .political pedigree. But, today, he has fallen apart with both Atiku Abubakar and former Governor Murtala Nyako Many of those who worked to bring Bindow to power in 2015 did not only feel betrayed and fell out with him but also abandoned him and now see him as an enemy that must be dealt with politically.

The just concluded Presidential and National Assembly election where APC lost in the northern senatorial district and Southern zone of the state with wide margin has further compounded the governor's woes.

His party APC did not only lose two senatorial seats of Adamawa North and Adamawa south with 14 out of the 21 local governments in the state, but also lost four House of Representative seats of Numan/ Demsa/lamurde,Guyuk/shel leng,Michika/ madagali and fufore/song which they initially controlled.

The loss of the state to PDP in the Presidential and National Assembly election has further pitched Gov.Bindow against some prominent stakeholders of the party in the state such as Mallam.Nuhu Ribadu, Gen. Buba Marwa, and Dr.Mahmud Halilu, among other close allies of President Muhammadu Buhari , who hitherto had been at logger heads with the governor over political differences.

Despite all these odds, the governor and his supporters believe that his performance in the last four years especially in the area of construction of roads within the length and breadth of the state will see him through and return him to his seat today.

They believe that the gang up against him will fail and will not stop him from getting reelected because he has lived up to expectations of the ordinary people of the state who constitute the bulk of the voting population.

Hon. Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri:

•Sen.Abdul ‘aziz Nyako

Hon.Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri Assembly under him was known for its steadfastness, vibrancy,quality legislation, robust debates and diligence in the performance of its duties and oversight functions as well as in checkmating the excesses of the executive.

Within the shortest time he served as acting governor and despite inadequate funds he was able to put smiles on the faces of the people of Adamawa especially in the areas of basic infrastructural drive, roads constructions, street lights, settlement of two months salary arrears of civil servants in the state among many other development projects which impacted positively on the lives of the people of the state and performed credibly well which further boosted his image and increased his political popularity in the state.

Despite all these achievements his efforts to become substantive governor of the state which analysts believed he would have won in the supposed bye election did not see the light of the day as a result of a court judgement which ordered the swearing in of Nyako's deputy, .Bala Ngillari as the substantive governor of the state to complete Nyako's tenure and this sealed his gubernatorial ambition.

His strength lies in his grassroots connections, popularity and acceptability among the people of Adamawa, the overwhelming support he enjoyed from the civil servants in the state in addition to,his records and superlative performance as acting governor which may lead him to victory.

But, his obstacle lies in the ongoing case EFCC filed against him as well as his alleged hate speech against the Fulani when he was acting governor which has become a campaign issue against him despite his several denials. In addition, those who are sympathetic to Nyako will likely work against him as they are yet to forgive him for his role that led to N y a k o ' s impeachment.

Fintiri, the gubernatorial candidate of PDP was the immediate past Speaker of the state House of Assembly and the two term acting governor of the state, who impeached Murtala Nyako in 2014. Fintiri is known in Adamawa politics for his people-oriented policies and commitment towards the plight of the civil servants. His penchant for running a welfarist government with human face vis a vis remarkable infrastructural development within the shortest time he served as acting governor of the state stamped him out in the politics of the state.

His emergence as PDP candidate did not come to most political observers as a surprise Sen.Abdulaziz because even prior to PDP Murtala gubernatorial primaries in the state most people strongly Nyako: believed that except for divine Sen.Abdul 'aziz intervention nothing on earth Nyako the could stop him from picking PDP gubernatorial gubernatorial ticket in view of his of The loss of the state to candidate popularity and acceptability A f r i c a n among PDP family and by Democratic PDP in the Presidential extension the people of Adamawa Congress (ADC) is and National Assembly state. the eldest son of Fintiri is a grassroots politician, ex- Gov.Murtala election has further entrepreneur and a graduate of Nyako and the history from the University of pitched Gov.Bindow current Senator Maiduguri who came into the representing against some political limelight of Adamawa Adamawa Central state in 2007 election when he senatorial district prominent contested and won the House of elected under the Assembly seat of Madagali stakeholders of the platform of APC in constituency under the platform 2015 but party in the state such of the opposition ACN and was subsequently subsequently elected as deputy defected to ADC as Mallam.Nuhu minority chief whip. with his supporters Ribadu, Gen. Buba He subsequently defected to due to PDP in line with the interest of his irreconcilable Marwa, and Dr.Mahmud constituency and was re-elected differences with to the Assembly for a second term Halilu, among others Bindow. in 2011 under PDP and became He was a fine the majority leader and and vibrant Naval subsequently emerged as the officer who has Speaker of Adamawa State carved a niche for House of Assembly following the himself in his military career and rose through impeachment of the then speaker Hon. Sadiq the ranks to become a commander in the Ibrahim Dasin Nigerian navy but voluntarily retired in 2007 His tenure as speaker was eventful and the

following his father's emergence as Adamawa state governor.

Commander Abdulaziz Nyako (rtd) played a key role in the formulation and execution of Nyako administration's policies and programmes which impacted positively on the lives of the people of the state especially in the areas of skills acquisition and youth empowerment programmes which increased his popularity and made him a force to reckon with in Adamawa politics .

He played a prominent role that led to the successes of APC in the state and was believed to be instrumental to his father's decision to defect from PDP to APC when he fell apart with Goodluck Jonathan government and was subsequently elected as a Senator representing Adamawa Central under APC in 2015.

He has not been very comfortable with the Governor Bindow's government for a long time before his defection to ADC where he emerged as ADC gubernatorial candidate.

His gubernatorial ambition is seen in most quarters as a subtle revolution by the youth to

Hon.Emmanuel Bello take their destiny in their hands in line with the popular demand for generational change in Nigerian politics.

Most people rated him low in the National Assembly for allegedly not providing dividends of democracy to the people of his senatorial district, arguing that he was more concerned with fighting the governor rather than touching the lives of his people.

His strength lies in the fact that he will certainly reap from the goodwill and popularity of his father ex- Gov. Murtala Nyako who really touched the lives of so many people and families during his time and they will certainly reciprocate the gesture by voting for his son.

The division within Adamawa APC is an added advantage to his gubernatorial ambition as most of those who are against the governor's re- election within the party are Nyako supporters and followers and will rather go with him.

His promises to continue with most of the empowerment policies and programmes of his father as well as his youthful age and ability will also enhance his chances of becoming the next governor of Adamawa state.

But his obstacle lies in the fact that, he is a direct opposite of his father who was known for his humility, compassion, love for humanity and common man as well as a large heart of assisting the downtrodden.

Hon.Emmanuel Bello:

•Gov Ortom Hon.Emmanuel Bello, the gubernatorial candidate of the Social Democratic Party ( SDP ) is a dogged fighter and determined young man with great foresight and patriotic zeal whose passion for the development of the state and his people dragged him into politics He is a successful business man who damned the consequences of political uncertainty to contest for the House of Representative seat of Gombi/Hong federal constituency in the build up to 2007 election under the platform of PDP and was shortchanged at the primaries.

As a dogged fighter who believed in fighting for his right and what he believed will be in the collective interest of his people he refused to be intimated but instead took the party to court over the alleged injustice done to him.

The case dragged for almost a year at the end of which the court declared him as the authentic PDP candidate in the federal constituency and the duly elected member representing Gombi/hong federal constituency .

During his time in the National Assembly he ensured effective representation and initiated projects that have direct bearing on the lives of the people of his constituency which endeared him to the people and increased his popularity.

After the expiration of his tenure he continued with his business and have been participating in politics and later defected from PDP to APC and contributed greatly to the success of the party and indicated his interest to contest for the gubernatorial seat of the state under APC. He later defected from APC to SDP to realise his ambition to be a candidate.

His strength lies in his door to door campaign strategy and his records in the National Assembly in addition to his financial capability. He also enjoys the support of the Christian community in the state who see him as their own, being the only Christian contestant among the serious contenders in the state which will brighten his chances in the election.

His obstacle however lies in the fact that, apart from contesting under a weak political platform his support base is only limited to one senatorial district and among the Christians without much effort to sell himself to other parts of the state.

BENUE: Go Govv Or Orttom har harvvests the goodwill of Benue residents •Battles security ffor or ces orces Today's governorship election in Benue state will be historic for the people who will through their votes either reward Governor Samuel Ortom of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, with a second term in office for a job well-done and for yielding to the demands of the majority of the people to enact the Open Grazing Prohibition Law to end ceaseless herdsmen killings in the state or show him the way out making him the first governor to serve a single term in the state.

Though, it is expected that just like others before him, Governor Ortom might not earn a second term on a platter of gold, given the resolve of the opposition All Progressives Congress, APC, and its governorship candidate, Emmanuel Jime, to give him a run for his money, the governor still enjoys a strong support base.

The Governor might not have satisfied or met the expectations of

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GUBER RA CE: U pse ts, sur prise loom RACE: Upse psets, surprise Continues from pg 9 all Benue indigenes but his tough stance against the killings in the state, has endeared him to so many including his critics. This has added to his cult like followership and support base across the state.

Moreover the last Presidential and National Assembly elections clearly exposed the political inclination of vast majority of the people.

In that poll, PDP recorded a clean sweep of the three available senatorial seats, six out of the 11 House of Representatives seats, APC got one, APGA also got one while three were declared inconclusive.

What Ortom has going for him is the fact that the three new Senators-elect from the state including the likes of former Governor Gabriel Suswam, former Interior Minister Abba Moro who recorded a stunning victory after wining in all the nine local government areas of Benue south district, Mr. Orker Jev, who defeated Senator Akume and the six House of Representatives members who are powerful political forces in their respective constituencies are expected to deliver bulk votes for the Governor.

Moreover, with the likes of former Senate Presidents David Mark, and Dr. Iyorchia Ayu as well as former Speaker Pro Tempore, Terngu Tsegba and a host of the political heavy weights in the state still in the PDP and rooting for him, Ortom is going into the race enjoying significant advantage over his APC rival.

However, that cannot for any reason wish away the possibilities of the underdog putting up a good fight in the contest since Jime is also an influential politician who once served as Speaker of the state Assembly between 1992 and 1993.

He is certainly not a politician whose quest could be dismissed with a wave of the hand because he is also in the race to win.

Perhaps the greatest undoing of the APC and its governorship candidate could be the routing defeat former governor George Akume suffered in his third re-election bid to the senate after losing to Orker Jev of the PDP. Akume who is the leader, a notable figure and strong voice for the party in the state, bore the brunt of the people following his alleged repeated public outburst that it was Benue people who were killing each other and not armed herdsmen.

Despite that humiliating set back, the APC still has in its fold the likes of retired Maj. Gen. Lawrence Onoja, former Speakers, Mr. Stephen Tsav and Prince Terhemen Tarzoor who are all conscientiously supporting the aspiration of the APC governorship candidate.

PDP is also accusing APC federal government of using military men to muscle their way in many areas of the country. They have raised the alarm for such possibility, alleging that many of their members were already being detained by security forces for unjustifiable reasons.

However, with the resounding victory recorded by the PDP at the February 23 election and given the political influence individuals who ran and won on the platform of the party wield in their respective constituencies, how the APC hopes to stop Ortom and the PDP from coasting to victory in the next election is still a matter of conjecture.

NASARA WA: NASARAW No major opposition ffor or APC candidate

Ethnicity, religion, and political alignment will play major roles in determining the winner of today's governorship poll in Nasarawa State. This is because since the inception of the present democratic dispensation in 1999, political direction in Nasarawa state has always been influenced by these factors.

Before the inauguration of the incumbent governor, Umaru Tanko Al-Makura, the major ethnic groups in the state, the Eggons, the Alagos have always dictated the the pace.

However, the inability of either ethnic group to unite and speak with one voice has denied them the opportunity of producing the governorship in the state.

In the 2019 general

•Al-Makura elections, Labaran Maku of APGA is an Eggon and a Christian, while David Ombugadu is from the same ethnic group, and also a Christian and both of them are contesting the governorship. And this lack of unity has been responsible for why one ethnic group has been ruling the state since the inception of democracy in 1999.

Abdullahi Adamu, a Muslim governed the state for eight years. Late Akwe Doma, also a Muslim ruled the state and handed over to the incumbent, Umaru Tanko Al-Makura who is completing his eight years. The question then is, where are the major ethnic groups who could have been deciding the political affairs of the state?

Eng. Abdullahi Sule is a candidate of the ruling APC who by no means will have the backing of the national body of the party, the support of the state government and the support of the former governor, Abdullahi Adamu and many other members of the party who will do everything humanly possible to remain in control of the state..

Taking all these factors into account and judging from the perceived over whelming performance of the APC government under the leadership of Umaru Tanko Al-Makura in the state, the coast seems to be clear and bright for the APC without much struggle to clinch the governorship position today.

•El-Rufai another primary election for the governorship candidate within two weeks thereby nullifying the candidacy of Abba Kabir Yusuf.

In a swift reaction, the PDP appealed the judgement and declared that Abba Yusuf remained the party's candidate as confirmed by an earlier state High Court judgement and the Independent National Electoral Commission INEC. The court order has however affected the support he was enjoying to an extent that some of the electorate are considering either not participating in the

KADUNA: Where religion is the issue

•Ashiru’s goodwill may not be enough to stop El-Rufai

KANO: Cour der against PDP Courtt or order boosts Ganduje’s chances

People's general expectations as regards politics in Kano have always been shattered by the reality and outcome of the final contests.

Although the ruling All Progressive Congress, APC won the Presidential and National Assembly elections with overwhelming margin in Kano, its performance when compared to past performances in the state was not encouraging.

The total number of those who participated in the voting process during the election was not up to the votes cast for President Muhammadu Buhari in 2015. His popularity has definitely dropped by a double digit percentage.

The Kano people who didn't vote for Buhari could not accept Atiku Abubakar, the People's Democratic Party, PDP presidential candidate, as a substitute and they simply abstained.

As the gubernatorial election takes place today the entire political scene in Kano was hoping for a new turn as PDP is also accusing the contest was widely believed to be between APC federal the incumbent governor Dr Abdullahi Ganduje government of using under the ruling APC and the PDP candidate military men to muscle Kabir Yusuf. their way in many areas Abba The next contestant widely seen to possibly of the country. They play a major role in the contest due to his have raised the alarm popularity is Sagir Takai of the People's for such possibility, Redemption Party, PRP alleging that many of with some even claiming that he will be the their members were second runners up in the governorship contest in already being detained the state.

Few days to the polls by security forces for however, a Federal High unjustifiable reasons Court ordered that the PDP should conduct

Kwankwasiyya under the PDP is facing a lot of last minute challenges that include defection of some of its members to the ruling APC. The state executive members of the PDP under Senator Jubrin Doguwa and thousands of their supporters decamped to the APC, accusing PDP of insincerity. In his position as the factional leader of the PDP, he and members of his faction felt isolated and they moved to the ruling APC to support Governor Ganduje.

The two issues of court judgment and the late decamping of the PDP members have doused the foreseen tension surrounding the chances of Governor Ganduje.

However, the PDP also got a little boost when the governorship candidate of ADP, Muhammad Sani Abacha, the son of the former military ruler paid Sen Kwankwaso a goodwill visit.

Initially, the Kwankwasiyya joined the PDP and took over the party forcing major stakeholders of the party to move out including the PRP governorship candidate Takai.

Prior to the current situation there were those who believed that Takai would come second after the PDP candidate in the contest but recent developments have changed that perception.

The APC enjoys what is called the 'Sak' symptom whereby supporters of President Buhari only vote for candidates contesting under the platform of APC irrespective of who they are. Disabusing the minds of most of the electorate against this mindset is indeed a tedious job.

This is a major boost for the incumbent governor. It will empower him politically and increase his chances of winning a second term in the coming election.

Abdullahi Ganduje elections or voting for the PRP candidate.

The ruling party on its part is celebrating the court judgment because the news of the court judgement was publicized by the party.

This is because Abba was perceived as the only possible threat to the success of the APC's second term in the state.

Abba Kabir is an anointed candidate of Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, a former Kano state governor and leader of the popular political movement Kwankwasiyya in Kano.

The perception that the Kwankwasiyya movement has perished as justified by the outcome of the just concluded presidential election might not necessarily be correct. What was more reliable was that Sen Kwankwaso did not sell the candidature of the PDP candidate, Atiku Abubakar. All he did for him was to attend the presidential rally and that was all. But in the case of his anointed candidate Abba, Sen Kwankwaso took him round the 43 Local Government Areas asking the people to vote for him as the state governor. He has generally been accepted as the candidate and has become a household name in the state.

It was believed that Sen Kwankwaso was seen not to have been interested in Atiku's candidacy as expected because of his own plans of contesting for presidency in 2023 and with Atiku as president seeking a second term, it would be more difficult for him. But with Buhari completing his second term in office the challenges for him would be less. More so, placing Abba as governor in the state will surely breed a mammoth of votes for him from Kano, the state with virtually the highest number of bulk voters.

In the mean time in Kano, the

Although the Independent National Electoral Commission cleared 36 candidates for the election, this Saturday’s governorship election in Kaduna state is a straight fight between Nasir El Ruafi of the All Progressive Congress and Isa Ashiru of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP. While supporters of the incumbent, Governor Nasir El Rufai are optimistic that he will secure another mandate of four years to lead the state, PDP supporters believe that with the many mistakes and controversies that have trailed the four years of the El Rufai government, the fight will be a walk over against the governor.

Indeed, the last four years of Nasir El Rufai have been as eventful as they have been controversial. He brought about radical reforms into governance. He increased the school enrollment of pupils, refurbished and upgraded many primary health care centres in the state, generated employment both through the public and private sectors and has consistently scored very high in various reforms. For those who believe that governance should be about meeting the expectations of the people through the provision of necessary infrastructure and laying a foundation for institutional reforms, El Rufai will naturally score high in their assessment. There are those the reforms consumed, among them many teachers, who would never smile at him and may use the votes to express their bitterness.

On the other hand, Isa Ashiru who is seeking to take over from El Rufai is coming from the legislature. He is seen as a bridge builder, an astute politician who is at home with the grass roots. Many believe that with his wonderful performance during the 2014 governorship primaries between him and Nasir El Rufai, and the growing disenchantment against the governor, Ashiru will naturally tap into the goodwill that he had cultivated over time in the state.

But in politics, goodwill is not all that is required to win at the polls. Since winning the PDP primaries and emerging as its candidate for the governorship election, Isa Ashiru and indeed the PDP have all relaxed and have not exhibited the required drive that is expected from a party in opposition seeking to displace an incumbent. The campaign has been disorganized, devoid of issues, the principal actors in the party in the state have been sidelined and there is no

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deliberate coordination to aggressively market the candidature of the PDP to the people. The campaigns lacked zest and depth that would ginger the people of the state to massively move against the incumbent. It would be a miracle for the PDP to displaced the incumbent, if the lackluster campaign and the uncoordinated nature of key characters in the party are the only criteria to be used in assessing whether a candidate is serious for the election or not.

Despite the modest achievements of the El Rufai government, the controversies that have trailed his last four years have been gargantuan. He brazenly upstaged the delicate religious balance in the state by picking a Muslim as his running mate in a state where most issues are viewed through the prism of religion. Rather than conscientiously explaining his decision, Mallam El Rufai haughtily rationalized that even if he had picked the pope as his running mate, the southern Kaduna senatorial district, majority of who have not hidden their disagreement with the way the state if being run and are predominantly Christian, would not have voted for him.

While pursuing his reforms, Nasir El Rufai stepped on so many toes. He sacked over 20,000 incompetent primary school teachers, dismissed several traditional rulers, and watched as the insecurity situation in the state, especially in Birnin Gwari and some parts of southern Kaduna spiraled out of hand. He demolished structures that encroached into schools in the state; famously took on the members of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria and made life hell for them and sidelined all the political and religious big wigs in the state that were used to being fed from the public wealth.

But all these notwithstanding, it appears that Nasir El Rufai is set to coast to victory in Saturday’s election. While he sacked over 20,000 primary school teachers, he employed twenty five thousand more. What he lost in the sack of the incompetent teachers, he gained in the employment of the new set. He has cultivated a fanatical support base that believes in his leadership and is willing to remain with him, waltz and all.

But what perhaps was a deciding factor that may work for El Rufai is the weaponisation of religion by some of his supporters. In the few days leading to the election, some of the supporters of the governor have presented the election as a contest between Christians and Muslims. The APC is presented as an Islamic party while the PDP is seen as a party that enjoys the support of Christians. With religious leaders preaching in mosques that the election was a census on Christians and Muslims in the state, even those who ordinarily would not have voted for the El Rufai see it as a religious obligation to vote for their religion. At the end of the day, even if Nasir El Rufai emerges victorious, it may neither be a sign of his acceptability nor a rejection of the PDP.

KA TSINA: Buhari’s influence, KATSINA: GOC’s hand in Masari’s race In Katsina State, the Incumbent, Governor AIn Katsina State, the Incumbent, Governor Aminu Bello Masari under the platform of the All Progressive Congress, APC looks set to be returned for second term.

Apart from the power of incumbency and state resources at his disposal, governor Masari enjoys an institutional advantage. He got the backings of the Interim Chairmen of the 34 local government areas (he appointed them) as well as the civil servants in the state.

Some bigwigs of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party, PDP who majorly are forces to reckon with when it comes to victory of the party (PDP) have also decamped to APC and joined forces with the governor. By this, it simply means they would be working against the party, PDP in the forthcoming elections.

But beyond this, President Muhammadu Buhari’s factor as the son of the soil speaks volumes. If he is seen as a cult figure in other parts of the northern states, Buhari in Katsina is almost a god even those who may not like the person of the governor may vote for him because of the Buhari

Gov Aminu Bello Masari persona.

Coupled with this is the statewide influence of Katsina based Businessman and Masari’s supporter, Dahiru Barau Mangal. Known locally as the General Officer Commanding, GOC, Mangal exerts formidable political influence in the state.

He has political sons from all parts of the state who are also influencers in their areas.

Among them are Musa Adamu (Funtua Zone), former Speaker of Katsina State, Umar Ya'u Gwajogwajo (Maiadua - Daura zone) and his Deputy Speaker, Bilya Rimi among others.

These political off springs of the GOC will throw in their all to ensure that the governor is reelected in order to maintain their own political relevance.

About 12 gubernatorial candidates have also step down and thrown their weight behind Masari's candidature in the state ahead of the Saturday's polls.

But even if governor Masari looks set to clinch the office, it is not going to be a walk over for him. Several factors may combine to work against his easy ride. For instance, despite Masari’s emergence as the candidate of the APC in this Saturday’s election, the internal crisis within the APC in the state persists. some aggrieved politicians who were somehow forced out of contest, like Abubakar Samaila Isa Funtua, Masari's major challenger for the party's governorship ticket at the primaries and others might want to pay him back by working against his reelection..

Another factor that may rob off on Masari negatively is the issue of insecurity in the state.

With his own personal admission that about eight local government areas are front line areas in the issues of kidnapping, cattle rustling and armed banditry, victims affected by this ugly menace might be forced to make alternative choice in the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP governorship candidate, Sen. Yakubu Lado Danmarke who promised to restore security in the areas within first 100 days in office.

Beyond these, governor Masari has to contend with the political influence of the former Governor, Ibrahim Shehu Shema, as well as that of Yakubu Lado Danmarke, the PDP Governorship candidate in the state.

Ibrahim Shehu Shema, the immediate past Governor in the state left an indelible mark in terms of infrastructural development while he served for two terms as the governor of the state. Though his administration is under probe by the current administration and he is being prosecuted by the EFCC, based on the petition by the Masari government, he is not a push over and will deploy all resources at his disposal to ensure that governor Masari is made to kiss the dust.

Another hurdle to cross for Masari is Sen. Yakubu Lado Danmarke, the PDP governorship candidate.

Sen. Lado is the leading opposition, Peoples Democratic Party, PDP candidate in the race to unseat Governor Masari.

He is said to be a grassroots politician who rose through the political ladder from ward councilor to becoming a two terms local government Chairman; member of the House of Representatives and later Senator under the PDP platform. He would use these to mobilize support and votes in the elections and for many of his supporters, this is a payback time for them as he impacted most positively on the people during his various tenures.

Beyond these, governor Masari has to contend with the political influence of the former Governor, Ibrahim Shehu Shema, as well as that of Yakubu Lado Danmarke, the PDP Governorship candidate in the state

Badaru Abubakar

JIG AWA: Ego JIGA in PDP or king ffor or PDP,, SDP w wor orking Badaru Abubakar

Prior to the 23rd February presidential and parliamentary Polls, two of the leading opposition parties in the state, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP and the Social Democratic Party, SDP were upbeat in their expectations that they would make remarkable impact. But in a move that has dampened the moral of members of these parties, the ruling APC swept all the 3 senatorial seats and 11 seats for the House of Representatives. Although members of the opposition cried foul, accusing the ruling party of vote buying and using security personnel to intimidate them, the result of the election is a major setback as the parties go into today’s election.

While the two political parties made efforts to narrow down their differences and present a joint challenge to Governor Muhammed Badaru Abubakar of APC, a combination of inordinate ambition and ego has made this attempt to fail.

For Badaru Abubakar, the certainty of his victory is not so much as a result of his sterling performance but also by his unfailing support for President Muhammadu Buhari who he worked hard to deliver Jigawa state.

Having worked hard to ensure that not only that President Muhammadu Buhari won his election but also for all the other candidates of the party at the parliamentary level won, Badaru was able to create a quid pro quo situation where the senators and members of the House of Representatives elect feel they owe him a duty to ensure his reelection.

Apart from these crops of politicians, other prominent politicians in the state like Hon. Farouk Adamu, a right hand man of president Muhammadu Buhari will throw in his all to ensure that he delivers his constituency and the state at large for governor Badaru.

Similarly, the Director General of the Badaru campaign council, Ahmed Mahmud Gumel will certainly play critical role towards ensuring Badaru emerged victorious in the 2019 gubernatorial election in Jigawa state by ensuring that the Gumel emirate delivers for the incumbent governor.

While politicians may be working hard to ensure that the governor is reelected, businessmen who have been direct beneficiaries of the Badaru largesse will not be left out. Isah Gerawa, one of the indigenous and local contractors who is seen as one of the supporters of this government will spare no expenses in ensuring victory for the governor.

But it is not going to be an easy affair for the governor despite the heavy weight support. If the two gubernatorial candidates of PDP and SDP, Mal. Aminu Ringim and Bashir Adamu Jumbo respectively who have been causing governor Badaru sleepless nights are able to overcome their differences join hand together, they may be able to cause some upset.

Similarly, the defeated Senators of Northeast and North central, Ubali Shitu (PDP) who was defeated by the sitting in deputy governor, Ibrahim Hassan Hadejia and son of ex-governor Lamido, Mustapha Sule Lamido will no doubt play their last political chances of opposing governor Badaru in the governorship elections using available resources at their disposal.

OGUN: Where candidat es ha ual candidates havve eq equal chances of winning

In today's governorship election, pendulum seems to be swinging among four governorship candidates in Ogun state. The four candidates ; Gboyega Isiaka of the African Democratic Congress ; Dapo Abiodun of All Progressives Congress ;

Buruji Kashamu of the People's Democratic Party and Abdul-Kabir Akinlade of Allied People's Movement are believed to be in serious contention for governorship seat.

At the last Presidential and National Assembly election, APC got three Senatorial seats and six House of Representatives seats while the three others got one seat each of the House of Representatives.

Despite the relatively poor showing in the last election, many people believe ,the governorship election is a different ball game.

From the fresh survey carried out, the pendulum is swinging among the four governorship candidates and they all seem to have same chances.

Gboyega Isiaka

Gboyega Isiaka is arguably ,the most popular candidate in the race in the state,and may still spring surprise in the election. Isiaka is a 'starboy' of former President Olusegun Obasanjo who is reported to be working for his emergence as the next governor. Many people believed that due to the poor showing of the party in the Presidential and National Assembly elections, the ADC may not get the winning votes from the people .But a critical observation has shown that Isiaka who hails from Imeko-Afon in the state may get the largest votes despite his relatively financial weakness.

He is from Ogun senatorial district ,which had not produced a governor for the state since its creation in 1976. Since he does not have a godfather like the other three candidates to fund his campaign ,it is believed that he may find it difficult to get the votes of the people .

But, the findings have shown that Isiaka remains the most acceptable candidate in the state.

Dapo Abiodun

Dapo Abiodun who is the APC governorship candidate hails from Remo in Ogun East Senatorial District. He is believed to be a candidate of the Vice-President ,Prof. Yemi Osinbajo . He is also believed to be a godson of former governor of Lagos State ,Asiwaju Bola Tinubu and former governor of the state ,Segun Osoba. However despite his party's sterling performance at the last poll, it is still believed that Abiodun may have it rough to emerge as the next governor .

Abiodun's greatest stumbling block has been the outgoing governor of the state,Senator Ibikunle Amosun. It may be a surprise if Abiodun emerges the governor despite the open hostility demonstrated by Amosun towards him.

It will also be a surprise if Abiodun wins in Ogun Central and West due to the stiff resistance he was receiving from the people.

While Amosun holds the ace in Ogun Central, two other candidates seem to have locked down the west to realise their dream.

However, some supporters of Abiodun and his running mate ,Noimot Salako-Oyede who hails from the west and the presence of Osoba may spring a surprise for Abiodun.

Buruji Kashamu

Kashamu is the PDP governorship candidate in the state who is largely believed to be playing a spoiler game for the APC. He was said to be bargaining with the ruling party over his proposed extradition . However, findings have shown that Kashamu means business as he has been engaging in subtle but , steady and serious underground campaign. Some supporters of Kashamu were seen at various homes and communities in the state wooing the people for their boss. In fact , no fewer than eight political parties have endorsed Kashamu after abandoning their governorship candidates.

To many people in the state, Kashamu is not a serious candidate but a critical look at his activities shows otherwise

Adek unle Akinlade dekunle

Akinlade is the governorship candidate of thAkinlade is the governorship candidate of the Allied People's Movement who hails from Ogun west like Isiaka . He is a godson of the incumbent governor ,Ibikunle Amosun .APM is a relatively new party in the state which became known shortly after the APC primaries which did not favour the preferred candidate of Amosun. But apart from the fact that the party is new, the candidate hails from a Senatorial district which has two prominent candidates vying for the seat. It will be a surprise if Akinlade wins. The last election was a blow to Akinlade's ambition, but, there may be a surprise at the poll as Akinlade seems to have left no stone unturned to succeed Amosun. The support from Amosun is tremendous. He could be the surprise of today's election in Ogun.

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sterling performance during the campaign period has made him popular and endeared him to the electorate which may see him emerge as runner up to Sanwo-Olu, thereby displacing Agbaje to third position.

That could be the surprise in Lagos.

Sanwo-Olu has traversed the length and breadth of Lagos meeting various interest groups on the need to vote for APC, which is another factor that could work for APC The hot beds The most contentious areas to watch out for today are: Oshodi-Isolo, Amuwo-Odofin, Ajeromi-Ifelodun, Ojo and Surulere Local Government Areas which had become trouble spots lately.

With the warning issued by Tinubu to APC chieftains, council chairmen and leaders in the council areas to perform in the governorship poll or be sanctioned, they have resorted to aggressive door-to-door campaign strategy, particularly in communities where there are more non-indigenes in the state.

Sanwo-Olu is favoured to win.

Perform or be consumed, O to ge advocates warn whoever wins in Kwara •Move to put Abdulrazaq on hot seat ILORIN...The political tsunami that swept away the Senate president, Dr Bukola Saraki in Kwara Central Senatorial district and indeed all other candidates in the National Assembly election in the state, on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP) came like a big surprise to many people.

In fact,considering the huge political profile Dr Bukola Saraki had built over the years,many wonder why he couldn't retain his senatorial seat even if his other candidates lost theirs, a development that demonstrated the damning effect of “O to ge” movement in Kwara. It means 'enough is enough'. It was propounded and effectively popularised by the main opposition party,the All Progressives Congress(APC) in the state.

Saturday Vanguard findings in the state after the last Presidential and National Assembly elections however revealed that the movement was not directly targeted at the personality of Dr Bukola Saraki but his monopoly of the political power and the resources that belong to all.

It was widely believed by the teaming masses across the political divides that because of the huge information about how the state was being governed over the years, the liberalisation of political power in the state would be to its general advantage and therefore bring about steady and uninterrupted developments across all the sectors.

Findings by Saturday Vanguard within the main opposition party,the All Progressives Congress further revealed a serious internal bickering among the political leaders over how key political appointments were shared.

For instance, in several of the funfare campaigns of the All Progressives Congress(APC) across the state ,there was never a public show of who is actually the running mate of Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq, the party's gubernatorial candidate In fact,the identity is being concealed because the political leaders were said to be largely uncomfortable about the choice and how it was arrived at.

Further findings by Saturday Vanguard also revealed that since its victory in the last elections,scheming for political appointments both at the state and federal have taken central stage so much to the extent that it's almost threatening the unity of the party ahead of today's elections.

Be that as it may,the strong will of the members of this main opposition party to collectively see the current election as once in a lifetime opportunity to successfully wrest political power from Dr Bukola Saraki has remained a central focus and major plus for members of the current All Progressives Congress in the state.

Call it dynamics of politics,but considering how deeply rooted the O to ge movement is in Kwara today, the All P r o g r e s s i v e s Congress(APC)maybe in for a shocker if the party mismanages its success and thinks it would stay on in power, as members of the movement have vowed to vote out non performing members in the next four years.

Speaking with journalists in Ilorin after a victory rally round the Ilorin metropolis, members the Buhari / Osinbajo Project 2019 warned that they would move against a nonperforming APC government much as they had done for the PDP in the state.

They indeed advised the incoming political

•Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq •Saraki leadership of the elected All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kwara state to learn lessons from the defeat of Dr Bukola Sarakis political dynasty in the state and ensure that they do not deviate from the principles of commitment to people that helped them to win the election.

The people, in their hundreds, went round major roads like Saw Mill, Ibrahim Taiwo, Post Office, Ahmadu Bello, Murtala Mohammed way, and terminated the rally at Fate road.

The state Secretary of the organization, Hon. Ayo Obisesan, who led the rally said that the masses in the state were tired of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its leadership, hence they came out enmasse to vote them out in the last general elections.

He said that a similar fate awaits any APC led administration which failed to implement people oriented programmes.

According to him,"Incoming government will have to perform well. We must remember that "o to ge" movement came about because people were tired of the government in power. It is not that people in APC are better than those in PDP, but people believe that they will not have many obstacles to perform unlike the PDP, since there will be no more godfatherism. But if they too begin to govern badly, the people will also come together and vote them out after four years" "Peoples are very conscious now and they can no longer be taken for granted.

What happened to the PDP in this state can happen to anyone who decides to take his people who gave him power for granted" Similarly Hon Saheed Popoola a chieftain of the party who flagged off the current revolution in the state house of assembly by staying back alone in APC when other lawmakers decamped to PDP expressed his total support for this position.

Speaking with Saturday Vanguard Hon Saheed Popoola said the O to ge movement has only removed political godfatherism in K w a r a politics,created a level playing ground for all and sundry to perform and has not given the APC chance of bad governance.

According to him,"If anybody in Kwara, whether in APC or any other party does not perform well the movement will sweep the person away. ,I support this p o s i t i o n wholeheartedly because it would put our dear state on a pedestal of a c c e l e r a t e d developments.

Nobody no matter how highly placed in Kwara can take people for granted any longer."he said.

Given the outcome of the last Presidential

Agbaje, described as a serial contestant and loser and Gbadamosi are not new in the contest having contested before and failed

and National Assembly elections in the state coupled with the number of defectors to the party ahead of today's elections, the possibility of APC winning the gubernatorial election in the state is obviously high but it also has to contend with expectations of Kwarans which are very high now.

Truly with the “O to ge” movement the incoming administration will have to contend with meeting the yearnings and aspirations of the people of Kwara state in the next four years or be voted out.

Lagos: Sanwo-Olu leads Agbaje, Gbadamosi in battle to succeed Ambode The stage is already set in what is expected to be a keen contest, as All Progressives Congress, APC, governorship candidate, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, candidate, Jimi Agbaje and Action Democratic Party, ADP, Candidate, Babatunde Gbadamosi are the front runners among other candidates participating in today's governorship poll to succeed the incumbent governor Akinwunmi Ambode for the next four years in Lagos.

Across party lines, Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, had cleared 41 candidates for governorship election, while 589 candidates were cleared for 40 seats in the state House of Assembly contest in Lagos.

In the run up to the poll today, SanwoOlu, Agbaje and Gbadamosi had shown exemplary qualities among others, during the various debates and campaigns for governorship.

Agbaje, described as a serial contestant and loser and Gbadamosi are not new in the contest having contested before and failed.

However, Sanwo-Olu, though, a new entrant in the race will have an edge over the others as a result of some factors that will work in his favour.

Agbaje, a Pharmacist by profession is a former ally of APC National Leader and former Governor of Lagos State, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu.

He also understudied Tinubu before he later decamped to PDP. Before he decamped however, Tinubu was said to have assisted him in some ways when Governor Babatunde Fashola was governor.

Suddenly, the PDP was said to have convinced Jimi Agbaje that the APC would never win in Lagos, that President Goodluck Jonathan would use federal might to conquer Lagos.

The PDP deceived him and he decamped to PDP. In his usual style and character, Tinubu remained calm, and fished out Akinwunmi Ambode from nowhere and presented him to Lagosians.

Ambode won, and the rest is history.

In a similar manner Sanwo-Olu emerged from the blues when the party decided to deny Ambode the second term ticket.

Perhaps, the only upset that could likely play out will be who emerges as the first runner's up. Gbadamosi

•Agbaje

•Sanwo-Olu

•Ambode

SATURDAY Vanguard, MARCH 9, 2019—13

GOVERNORSHIP “WAR” IN S’SOUTH:

How Delta, A’Ibom, Rivers, C’River may possibly go •Uduaghan, Ogboru scheme Okowa’s exit; Ibori, Clark, Gbagi plot his victory •Wike fights Amaechi to a standstill, security unpredictable •Gov Emmanuel set for Akpabio, Ekere; Ayade at ease

By Emma Amaize, Regional Editor, South-South, Jimitota Onoyume, Asst News Editor (Warri), Festus Ahon (Asaba), Egufe Yafugbori (Port Harcourt) Emma Una (Calabar), Harris- Okon Emmanuel, Chioma Onuegbu (Uyo) and Davies Iheamnachor (Port Harcourt)

L

Udom

AST Sunday when news filtered that President Muhammadu Buhari still savoring his victory in the February 23 presidential polls would be visiting Delta, Akwa Ibom and some other states in the South-South ahead today’s governorship elections, many concluded that for sure, the All Progressives Congress, APC, was not teasing about its plan to break into South-South.Its sketch still looked obscure with the thrashing it suffered largely in the geo-political zone, a conventionally Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, stronghold in both the Presidential and National Assembly elections, even in Edo state, the home base of its intrepid National Chairman, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole.The Vice President, Prof Yemi Osinbajo, who represented President Buhari and Oshiomhole finally led powerful APC contingent to Warri, Delta and Uyo, Akwa Already, there are reports that security Ibom states, where they held discussions with party leaders and faithful and the agencies apprehended thugs allegedly prevalent/bizarre complaint was that PDP brought in several buses from Edo state deployed security agencies and where governorship election is not holding Independent National Electoral today, to cause mayhem in Akwa Ibom Commission, INEC, against them.Former state.

The thugs mentioned a top APC leader Minister of State for Education and PDP leader in Delta State, Olorogun Kenneth that hired them, a similar band of Gbagi, laughed off the allegation, asking, hooligans also stormed Delta state on “How convincing is the claim that an Wednesday. opposition PDP used the security agencies and INEC in control of Federal Government and APC against APC.”However, APC leaders and faithful narrated stories of how PDP governors and chieftains in the respective states in the zone denied the ruling party of victory.A day after Osinbajo and In Delta state where former governor of Oshiomhole returned to Abuja, President Delta state, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan, is Buhari met with Service Chiefs and the arrowhead of the battle to crown APC’s ordered deployment of more soldiers in governorship standard-bearer, Chief Rivers, Akwa Ibom, Great Ogboru, as the Delta and Bayelsa.Since next governor against then, the already built-up PDP’s bid to ensure a tension in the Southsecond tenure for South over today ’s incumbent Governor election, especially Ifeanyi Okowa, there is governorship has ominous impression of escalated. trouble.

In Warri, Oshiomhole Uduaghan charged boasted that Governor back at the Director Okowa should get his General of PDP handover note ready, Campaign Council, while Osinbajo Delta state and his maintained that the state former Commissioner could no longer afford to for Works, Hon A day after Osinbajo and be ruled by PDP, Solomon Funkekeme, comments that infuriated Oshiomhole returned to whom he accused of Gbagi, who upbraided fingers at him Abuja, President Buhari pointing them to be mindful of in connection with their utterances, as they planned met with Service Chiefs APC’s cannot enslave Deltans. violence for today ’s And in Uyo, Osinbajo and ordered deployment polls. indicated that PDP stole He said, “As an inner its mandate on February of more soldiers in Rivers, caucus member of my 23, which it was going to team for over 14 years, Akwa Ibom, Delta and retrieve today, an I know you are well allegation that PDP had aware of my Bayelsa.Since then, the strongly denied and put commitment and Osinbajo to the strictest to already built-up tension in dedication proof, thereof. promoting peace. In Citizens, who had the South-South over and out of government, traumatic encounters will continue to do so. today’s election, II have with soldiers during the always preached February 23 elections, against election especially governorship would not want a repeat violence.” of such harrowing “You and I prepared has escalated experiences today. for, executed and won

Ok owa Oko

DEL TA: Ok ow a e xpect ed DELT Oko expect xpected to win as Ogboru relies on ffederal ederal might

several elections. Did we ever budget for thuggery? Did we ever buy guns or military uniforms? I just contested for Senate in our Senatorial district. Were you told I used military uniforms or guns, or even other weapons?

“The APC national chairman, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole and I have never been known to be violent people. We know those who have history of cultism and violence. I pray you get what you have been promised, which has pushed you to raise the false alarm against us. Many who traveled this route are getting disappointed as they are coming out empty handed,” he added.

It is still not clear why former governor Emmanuel Uduaghan of the All Progressives Congress, APC, lost his bid to represent Delta south senatorial district in the last election to Senator James Manager of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP. Hon Funkekeme had accused APC of planning to “psychologically disorganize the PDP members and/or placing key members of Governor Ifeanyi Okowa’s cabinet and top PDP officials of the state under house arrest in order to break their resolve.”

He also said the rival party planned to cage PDP chieftains to weaken party in their areas, while law-abiding and non-indigenes, especially those residing in Delta Central would be given the “Lagos treatment” by identifying and violently stopping them from voting and destroying electoral materials where voting had actually taken place.

Funkekeme said the PDP had it on good authority that APC has assembled ex-militants and moved into a covert and concealed location where they would debrief and provide them uniforms and arms to unleash mayhem on innocent Deltans going to vote today.

“Our impeccable sources within APC confirm with certainty that the masterminds behind the devious plan include the APC national chairman, and Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, former Delta state gover nor, Dr. Emmanuel

Uduaghan, who was recently trounced convincingly by the PDP,” he purported.

He added that “Chief Great Ogboru, serial loser to PDP, as well as top officials of APC in Abuja and other APC stakeholders in Delta state” were part of the plot.

Looking, however, at what is on ground in the state, today’s governorship election is a clash of the titans between the two major contenders, Governor Okowa of PDP and Chief Ogboru of APC. Okowa wants Deltans to give him another four years to consolidate like his predecessors in office, former Governors James Ibori and Emmanuel Uduaghan.

He has the support of Ibori, but had since lost Uduaghan. Besides Ibori, prominent Deltans, including elder statesman and influential opinion leader in the state, Chief Edwin Clark, Olorogun Gbagi, Delta’s biggest industrialist and others are behind him. In the last Presidential and National Assembly elections, the PDP won in 23 out the 25 local governments in the State. The PDP also won two Senatorial seats and nine Federal House of Representatives seats leaving its major opposition, the APC with one senatorial seat and one House of Representatives seat.

On his part, Ogboru, having contested five times and lost, and believing in his seeming popularity, thinks today is his appointed day. Ogboru who is from Delta Central Senatorial district does not believe in the zoning arrangement in the state. The APC gubernatorial candidate is confident that his party controls government at the centre and can use the instrumentality of the Federal government to his advantage.

The major stronghold of Chief Great Ogboru is Delta Central (Urhobo speaking area), while Okowa has a vicelike-grip of Delta North (Anioma) and Delta South, comprising Ijaw, Itsekiri and Isoko. He is, however, totally in charge of his district and the battleground is Delta South, where he has upper hand.

Minister of State for Petroleum, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu, is from Delta North, as well Dr Cairo Ojougboh, Chief Hyacinth Enuha and a host of other APC chieftains.However, no Anioma son, apart from some APC stakeholders, is willing to sacrifice Okowa for Ogboru.

In the last Presidential and National Assembly elections, the APC won two local governments out of the 25 local governments in the State. It won Delta Central Senatorial seat and Ughelli North/ Ughelli South/Udu Federal constituency seat, while PDP took Delta North and Delta South.

AKW A -IBOM: AKWA

Gov Emmanuel coasting home The battle for the soul of oil rich Akwa Ibom state today is an epic one. As they say, when two elephants fight, the grass must definitely feel the twinge. The governorship contest in the state is a straight fight between Governor Udom Gabriel Emmanuel and his fierce contender, Obong Nsima Ekere. Others could be aptly tagged as pretenders to the throne as their campaigns were mainly on the social media and the few

Continues on pg 14

14—SATURDAY Vanguard, MARCH 9, 2019

Continues from pg 13 nondescript campaign billboards adorning strategic points in Uyo, the state capital.

Governor Emmanuel comes into the race armed with the power of incumbency and the fact that no sitting governor has ever lost re-election since 1999, despite stiff opposition is an essential tonic for him. On his side are key allies such as Senator Anietie Okon, Senator Effion Bob, Otuekong Idongesit Idongesit Nkanga, Dr. Chris Ekpeyong, Etim Okpoyo, Nsikak Eduok, Nduesse Essien, Paul Ekpo, Helen Esuene, Barrister Emmanuel Enoidem, Dr. Emmanuel Ekuwem and a host of others in the PDP family.

On the other hand, Obong Ekere enjoys unalloyed support of veterans such as Senator Godswill Akpabio, Atuekong Don Etiebet, Umana O Umana, Sam Ewang, Eme Ufot Ekaette, Val Ebie, Senator Ita Enang, Udom Ekpoudom, Abom Tony Esu, Bassey Dan Abia, Arch Bishop Samuel Akpan, Senator John Akpanudoedehe, among others.

Meanwhile, the APC decided to zone its governorship position to Eket Senatorial District where the governor also comes from, so as not to alter the unwritten code of power sharing among the three senatorial districts.

The PDP swept the stake in the Presidential and National Assembly polls, leaving the APC reeling in defeat and calling for the cancellation of the polls over allegations of widespread electoral fraud by the PDP in connivance with the electoral umpire.

The governor won his unit and recorded an overwhelming votes in his Onna local government area, while Obong Nsima, could not win his Ikot Abasi local government area for the president and other national assembly candidates, although he pulled off an impressive result in his unit and ward.

According to PDP faithful, since the return of democratic governance in 1999, the two previous governors; Obong Victor Attah and Senator Godswill Akpabio completed eight years apiece, and as such, it is only expedient for Governor Emmanuel to complete two terms, like his predecessors.

The governor is relying on his achievements in nearly four years as the basis to continue in Government House, christened ‘Hill Top Mansion’. The PDP- led government points to the massive roads construction covering over 1,000 kilometers, industrialization, prudent management of resources, investments in agriculture and power supply, health care delivery, prompt payment of salary and educational reforms as their unique selling propositions.

Can Akpabio, Ek ere Ekere upturn the status quo?

Wik e Wike

How Delta, A’Ibom, Rivers, C’River may possibly go in Rivers The governorship clash in Rivers state today would have been clearly a two-horse race between incumbent Governor Nyesom Wike and whoever the opposition APC, would have presented before the party was stopped from presenting its candidate by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC. In the build up to the race, however, nothing had ever seemed equal. By some twist of fate, the alleged imposition of presumed outsider, Tonye Cole as APC’s governorship candidate marked the beginning of the party’s selfdestruct and critical shattering of permutations.

Fueled by the rebellion by aggrieved Sen Magnus Abe, the APC fell from being a major contender to a non partaker as the the court ordered INEC to delist APC from all ballots, except the Presidential Election in Rivers.

From this point, the odds have been in favour of Wike

Not Even APC’s Plan B worked APC however believed that Governor As a wounded lion, Amaechi’s faction of Emmanuel has performed very poorly in the Rivers APC, was reportedly set to bury its past four years which it would reverse with frustrations and align with Chief Dumo Lulu Ekere’s five-point vision areas of economic Briggs, who incidentally defected to procure prosperity; infrastructural and rural a controversial Accord Party’s guber ticket the development; education, health and social moment Cole was announced as preferred protection; security; and governance and flag-bearer. Like Cole, not only did the court, infrastructural reforms. penultimate Wednesday, also disqualify When Ekere first indicated his interest to Dumo, the Accord’s ticket was handed to contest the 2019 governorship election, his parallel claimant, Pastor Precious Baridoo desire was founded on the need to offer the who, weeks before, had joined 57 other state a new vision for collective prosperity. parties’ candidates to endorse Wike for reEkere, who is the immediate past Managing election. Barely 72 hours to the election day Director of Niger Delta however, APC adopted Development Commission the AAC gubernatorial (NDDC) also looked at his flag-bearer in the state, past records in public and Biokpomaba Awara, in private sectors as an asset for a last minute maneuver. him. Both contestants are not All APC faithful are to only from the same Eket vote for him.

Senatorial District, they are As signal to justify the also Ibibios. odds being in favour of While a vast majority Wike, the PDP defeated concluded that the PDP the APC in the February would win convincingly 23 elections. All based on the fact that the National Assembly state has been governed by election results declared The PDP swept the the party since 1999, others so far went to PDP. contended that in politics, as stake in the Presidential Strength, weaknesses in any other battles, “it is R e m a r k a b l y and National Assembly never over until it is over”. strengthened by the It is however, instructive to disqualification of key polls, leaving the APC note that at no time has the contenders, particularly state been so divided along APC and alternative reeling in defeat and party lines than now. The Dumo, Wike’s chances Akwa Ibom war is all about calling for the are further boosted by the PDP defending the his widespread projects cancellation of the polls zoning formula, while the delivery in his first APC is primed to upstage the tenure. Many people over allegations of status quo and take the oilhowever suspect that rich state to APC- controlled Abe’s faction of the widespread electoral central government.

Rivers APC, would tilt fraud by the PDP in to Wike in the governorship election. connivance with the The endorsement of Wike by almost all other electoral umpire candidates, except Eniye Braide of the African Democratic Congress, Isaac Wonwu

RIVERS: Wik e appear Wike appearss unstoppable

Ayade

of Labour Party, Precious Elekima of Social Democratic Party and Victor Fingesi of Action Democratic Party, who are all widely perceived as weak candidates, is also working out positively for Wike.

The main odd against Wike is his face- off with security operatives, especially the Nigerian Army and Federal Special AntiRobbery Squad of the Nigerian Police who he fiercely accused of allegedly playing APC’s script to rob him of deserved victory at the polls.

The PDP will also snap most of the state Assembly seats against virtually anonymous oppositions across the state in an election that the courts would go on record as having been the biggest decider. The result would justify or discredit the incumbent’s boast that, “I have no opposition in Rivers state.”

CROS RIVER: With APC in chaos, Pr of A Prof Ayyade is favoured tto o win In Cross River state, the internal crisis in APC, over the accepted governorship candidate has put the party in a very difficult position, especially with the different verdicts from the courts. This has made some persons to see the party as unprepared.

In spite of the plethora of contestants, there are four major contenders in the Cross River state governorship race. They are Professor Ben Ayade, PDP, Senator John Owan Enoh of APC, Mr Eyo Ekpo of the Social Democratic Party, SDP and Emmanuel Undie of the Young Democratic Party, YDP. The four contestants have been crisscrossing the state to seek the votes of the 1.5 million registered voters in the 18 local government areas of the state. On the other hand, Minister of Niger Delta, Pastor Usani Usani, insists that he and not Ekpo, is the lawful APC gubernatorial candidate.

However, leading the pack is Senator Ayade, the incumbent governor of the state, who from all indications is likely to carry the day, possibly followed by the APC flag bearer, Senator John Owan Enoh.

The battle is between what people refer to as PDP 1 and PDP 2 forces in the state. This is because the major players in the two parties, APC and PDP were all former members of a defunct political family, headed by Senator Liyel Imoke, former governor of the state. The split occurred in 2015 after the APC won the election at the national level and there was exodus of a number of aggrieved members of the family to APC. Ayade’s edge What is working for Ayade is the power of incumbency, which he has put to effective use. He gravitated to many people in the state and accordingly received loads of endorsements from various groups cutting across cultural, political, workers and private sector operators.

These endorsements transform to

votes which was evident during the Presidential and National assembly elections when the PDP won by a wide margin. The party also won all the National Assembly seats except one. People of the northern senatorial district of the state who believe the slot is theirs actively support him and that he should serve for eight years, the same way the central and southern districts occupied the post.

The people of the southern senatorial district are also in support of the governor for the simple reason that they want the slot in 2023 after he must have served his tenure for eight years.

Chief Asuquo Ekpenyong, Leader of the 7 Alive Southern Senatorial Forum told Saturday Vanguard that the district is billed to produce the next governor of the state in 2023 after Ayade and, therefore, their support is to enable the governor complete his eight years tenure and hand over to the district.

“We have supported this government from the start and we cannot abandon it now and with the southern district set to produce the next governor in 2023, we have to do our best to make the transition hitch free,” he asserted.

Chief Ekpenyong called on the leaders in the district to mobilize voters to vote en-masse for the governor and other contestants without fear, as the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, would win without much struggle.

“There is no fear of federal might because we are in charge and nobody can intimidate us. It is only when you do not have support that federal might can work, but we have massive support so we have no fear of anybody,” he said.

Also working for the governor is the large number of young people he has appointed as aides. He has over 5,000 of such people whom he pays monthly in his “food on the table” policy and many of them are willing to give their right hand to ensure he returns to keep their food on the table, which he has assured them. He gave the young men a simple task of winning their polling units, which many of them did during the February 23 elections.

APC’s divided house Senator Owan Enoh who is a strong contender for the post is looking up to federal government and the support of the former members of the PDP, who assume they are conversant with the winning trick of the party and would put it to use today. He has a vast war chest and actively supported by Senator Victor Ndoma Egba former Senate Leader, who contested the Central Senatorial district slot but lost in the February 23 elections.

However, strings of court cases have dogged the APC governorship race in the state. The Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Pastor Usani Usani, also contending for the APC ticket instituted a number of court actions to give credence to the fact that he is the APC flagbearer.

In one of such cases at the Federal High Court, Calabar, presided over by Justice S.A. Ambeda, the court had on February 11 given judgment recognizing the Etim John- led Working Committee of APC as the authentic party executive in the state. The court then directed the Independent National Electoral Commission to recognize the list of candidates as submitted by the Etim John Working Committee of APC in the state.

Owan, however, said the Federal High Court judgment lacked merit, insisting that an earlier ruling by another High Court had declared him the authentic candidate of the party for the governorship election “A High Court has earlier delivered judgment on the matter; another High Court cannot now adjudicate in the matter which is already in an Appeal Court. It is unconstitutional, null and void” Enoh pointed out.

Ekpo (SDP) and Undie (YDP) are tomorrow’s candidates Mr Eyo Ekpo of the SDP is obviously a very intelligent candidate who has vast knowledge of the problems of the state and how to address them, but his party has no strong structure. Though he has mass support from the youths, most of them go to where they may get cash on voting day.

He has a young running mate, Wofai Uka, who has attracted the youths to him, but with leaders of the southern senatorial district where he comes from backing Ayade, it is difficult to see how he would make much impact in the elections.

Emmanuel Undie of the YDP is a green horn and though he is running on the platform of a youth party, not many youths have been attracted to his campaign. He is also from the same local government with Ayade, which makes his case more problematic, as the people will rather keep the proverbial bird at hand that the million in the bush.

So, give and take, Senator Ayade is favoured to carry the day in today’s governorship election.

SATURDAY Vanguard, MARCH 9, 2019—15

Tension, anxiety in Oyo, Ogun, Lagos, Kaduna, Delta, Akwa Ibom, Imo

By Emmanuel Aziken

T

wo weeks after Nigerians went to the polls for the presidential and National Assembly elections, voters again go to the polls today to elect governors in 29 states and new members of the state Houses of Assembly in 36 states.

The only states not electing governors today are Edo, Bayesla, Anambra, Kogi, Osun and Ekiti. State legislative elections will, however, hold in the states.

Given the direct impact that governors have in the states, it is not surprising that today ’s governorship election has generated the kind of tension that has now gripped the country.

The tension is particularly palpable in some states where the gubernatorial gladiators and their associates have been on almost war paths.

Lagos, Oyo, Ogun, Imo, Kaduna, Delta, Edo, Benue, Rivers are among the major flash points in the election holding today.

LAGOS

The situation in Lagos has been aggravated by the ballot snatching incident that happened during the presidential and National Assembly elections in the Okota area of the megacity.

The major contenders in the state are the APC which is presenting Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu and Dr. Femi Hamzat as his running mate in the governorship election.

The opposition Peoples Democratic Party, PDP on the other hand is presenting the pair of Mr. Jimi Agbaje and successful boardroom lawyer, Mrs. Haleemat Busari as running mate.

The match-up in Lagos is particularly interesting.

Sanwo - Olu and his running mate, Hamzat picked the governorship forms of the party to contest against the incumbent, Mr.

Akinwunmi Ambode during the party primaries. Ambode had been rejected by the party’s grandees and grassroots upon many political infractions. The APC pair is presented as the offer of two solid eggheads for the price of one.

However, what could have made their dented their political ascendancy was the ballot snatching incident in the Okota area of Lagos.

The incidence of voter suppression as demonstrated in the Okota incident has brought emotions to fore as nonindigenes living in Okota and other areas of Lagos saw the incident as a way of locking them out from the political space.

It is remarkable that the pair of SanwoOlu and Hamzat have since that penultimate Saturday incident made repeated efforts to appease and woo the non-indigene population in the state.

Their efforts, however, are also being challenged by longstanding political foes of the political leader of the APC, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu who have tried to capitalize on the Okota incident to inflame a political revolution as was seen in Kwara two Saturdays ago when Senate President Bukola Saraki was defeated under the cloud of the O to ge movement in that state.

A similar attempt at replicating the O to ge movement in Lagos has, however, not been wholly successful.

A press conference to herald the r e v o l u t i o n penultimate Thursday was violently broken down by police aided by thugs.

Remarkably, the movement is spearheaded by renowned human rights activist, Olisa Agbakoba, SAN and has in its fold

If you need to be a kingmaker you need to do that within the ambit of the law, you do not need to do it with thugs

traditional political foes of Tinubu like Yinka Odumakin.

Spokesman of the group and a coconvener, Mark Adebayo speaking on the AIT Kakaki programme last Wednesday inveighed against a culture which according to him has seen one man dominating the affairs of the state.

“We cannot have a situation in which one man determines who gets what in the government,” he said.

“If you need to be a kingmaker you need to do that within the ambit of the law, you do not need to do it with thugs.”

Noting the way the Okota incident sparked the Lagos attempt for O to gemovement, he said: “Somebody has control over all the thugs in the state. In areas where the PDP is strong thugs came out to destroy the votes of people.

“The last stroke that broke the camel’s back was when we saw on live television when thugs came and scattered the votes.

Thugs came and scattered the votes of people who had stayed for hours and their votes were thrown away.”

However, few expect the revolution to ignite the kind of traction that it did in Kwara State.

Even more, the PDP in Lagos is also challenged by its traditional divisions. Agbaje who picked the ticket did not help himself when he contested against Chief Bode George for the post of national chairman of the PDP two years ago.

Though many of George’s supporters have forgiven him the apparent lackluster campaign of the PDP is apparent to many.

OYO STATE

The authority of Governor Abiola Ajimobi was seriously eroded penultimate Saturday when the PDP bruised him in winning the elections in the state. The governor was also defeated in his senatorial bid for Oyo South.

Though there have been mutterings over the issue, the claim that Tinubu banned him from the campaign of the APC’s standard bearer for gover nor, Adebayo Adelabu has been an issue in the political space.

Tinubu has taken a front role in protecting the APC’s hold in the state and doing that sometimes to the annoyance of some Ibadan political and traditional leaders.

Tinubu has been able to bring back some of those who were estranged from the party in Oyo State by the actions of the outgoing governor.

Among those who have returned to the party are Senator Soji Akanbi, former Governor Adebayo Alao-Akala; a former House of Representatives’ candidate in Ibadan North-West/South-West, Rotimi Ajanaku; and a former Commissioner for Works and Transport, Dr Yunusu Akintunde among many others.

Tinubu’s actions nonetheless, a section of the Ibadan traditional institution few days ago passed a strong endorsement on Seye Makinde, the candidate of the PDP on the claim that he had been nearer to them than Adelabu.

If it is really true that Tinubu banned Ajimobi from the APC campaigns supposedly in order not to draw antagonism from the population, today will determine to what extent that injunction has gone in mollifying the people.

KADUNA

Mallam Nasir El-Rufai’s political experiment of a MuslimMuslim ticket is considered the most audacious political overture by a governorship ticket in the history of Kaduna State.

While his development initiatives including infrastructure improvements have been appreciated, the governor ’s seeming hard political stances have been particularly revolting especially among the non Fulani, non Christian population.

It is no surprise that as voters go to the polls today that the population is almost strongly divided. Campaigns have not unsurprisingly taken a religious hue with many Christians and non Fulani taking strong positions against El-Rufai.

Remarkably, El-Rufai’s chief

Continues on page 16

16—SATURDAY Vanguard, MARCH 9, 2019

Tension, anxiety in Oyo, Ogun, Lagos, Kaduna, Delta, Akwa Ibom, Imo Continues from page 15 opponent is Isa Ashiru, also a Muslim from the Northern Senatorial district just as the incumbent governor.

Given the fact that El-Rufai has succeeded in breaking down the many alliances that helped to bring him to office, it is easily assumed in some quarters that the narrative would be against him.

Senator Suleiman Hunkuyi in whose house his 2015 campaign was launched (the house was demolished about a year ago by the Kaduna State Government), Senator Shehu Sani and among others who were with the governor in 2015 have viciously turned against him.

However, the governor has the power of incumbency going for him. Some Muslims also see the alliance of Christians against ElRufai as an opportunity to “protect a brother,” a development that is worsening the religious divide in the state.

However, the traditional institution in both the North and Southern parts of the state are not with the governor.

What will determine El-Rufai’s fate in today’s election is how his opponents are able to forge an alliance and protect the alliance on the field.

If Senator Ahmed Makarfi, former Vice President Namadi Sambo, Hunkuyi, Alhaji Buba Galadima and the many other political heavyweights agree and are able to take a chunk out of the Northern votes in Kaduna, El-Rufai would be in serious danger.

OGUN STATE

Ogun State with at least four prominent candidates is one of the most contentious states today where governorship elections are holding.

Whereas the APC has an official candidate in the person of Prince Dapo Abiodun, the APC governor of the state, Senator Ibikunle Amosun has broken ranks by throwing up another candidate to replace him as governor in the person of Alhaji Adekunle Akinlade of the Allied Peoples

Movement, APM. Besides the two, the PDP which has Senator Buruji Kashamu and the African Democratic Congress, ADC has Gboyega Isiaka making a contention that is bound to upset the political permutations of many.

IMO STATE

The political permutations in Imo State are about the same as Ogun State. The incumbent governor of the state, Owelle Rochas Okorocha has thrown up his sonin-law Uche Nwosu as his successor on the platform of Action Alliance, AA, a party that was originally formed by Okorocha to pursue his presidential aspiration about 15 years ago.

The official candidate of the APC is Senator Hope Uzodinma who remarkably, was a member of the PDP until recently and is in fact, not known to have officially defected from the party.

Uzodinma emerged upon the convergence of forces against Okorocha who styled themselves as the Allied Forces.

Other candidates in the contest include Senator Ifeanyi Ararume, All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, the PDP’s Chief Emeka Ihedioha and Accord’s Ikedi Ohakim.

The ethnic configuration could come into play today given that Uzodinma and Nwosu, two of the leading candidates are from the dominant Orlu ethnic group which has about 35% of the population.

If the two candidates divide the vote of the Orlu ethnic group, that could then pave way for any of the other three candidates to show force.

Okorocha’s political ascendancy could be derailed today if the strong opposition to his person and politics by the main stream of the party in Abuja and in Imo is anything to go by.

The APC on the other hand despite profusions of unity remains divided as the tendencies within the party remain suspicious of one another

It is alleged that his victory in penultimate Saturday’s Senate election was obtained at gun point. Today, the APC national leadership according to Saturday Vanguard sources is pointing its guns at the governor which could paralyse him.

DELTA

The main antagonists in today’s governorship poll in Delta State are Senator Ifeanyi Okowa and Chief Great Ogboru of the PDP and APC respectively.

Ahead of the election, the Federal Government announced the deployment of the military to the state and three other PDP controlled states for today’s election.

The Chief Press Secretary to Governor Okowa, Mr. Charles Aniagwu responding to the development told Saturday Vanguard that even if the move was suspicious that it would amount to nothing given what he claimed was the overwhelming dominance of the PDP and the good works of Governor Okowa in the state.

Indeed just as campaigning was ending, Governor Okowa was on Wednesday commissioning projects in the Delta Central Senatorial District, the hotbed of the opposition to the PDP in the state.

Significantly, Okowa was accompanied by Chief James Ibori the father of the PDP in the state, pointing to all that, he Ibori was fully behind Okowa’s second term.

The APC on the other hand despite profusions of unity remains divided as the tendencies within the party remain suspicious of one another.

Despite the efforts of the minister of state for petroleum, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu to forge unity, Ogboru and those who contested against him for the ticket remain suspicious of one another.

At the stakeholder ’s meeting with Vice President Yemi Osinbajo last Monday, one of the candidates, Mr. Sebastian Okoh reprimanded Ogboru over his dependence on only his men in Delta North saying that his men alone cannot save him from Okowa’s extensive grip on the state.

However, other party leaders

say that Ogboru is faced with a Catch-22 situation as many of his rivals during the party primaries in Delta North (with the notable exception of Dr. Cairo Ojuogboh) remain peeved over his perceived usurpation of the turn of the North.

Meetings hosted by Kachikwu in Abuja and in his country home in Onicha Ugbo were not able to solve the issue.

Though Kachikwu is seen as the head of the party in the state, the defection of the immediate past governor of the state, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan to the party has complicated situations for party leaders.

Political actors are not expressing anything dramatic in Delta today.

Senator Ovie Omo-Agege who had in the past been a strong support for Ogboru has lately seen his influence wane around Ogboru following the emergence of Uduaghan.

AKWA IBOM

The demystification of Senator Godswill Akpabio two Saturdays ago may have lowered the political tension in Akwa Ibom State.

However, given the hype that preceded the National Assembly elections many do not expect the APC to easily fade from the scene.

Last Monday Vice President Osibanjo was called to help lift the energy of the APC troops in the state. Just as in Delta where he first went to, the stakeholders in the state called for increased security a move that apparently prompted last Wednesday’s resolution of the National Security Council to deploy more troops to the region.

Irrespective of the odds of the military set against the PDP, the strong performance of the governor of the state is one that is likely to strengthen the party’s hand today against the APC. The aspiration of Mr. Nsima Ekere of the APC who is from the same senatorial district as the incumbent governor of the state is one that many political actors in the state also see as capable of upturning the zoning permutation in the state.

Against the background of the bounce received by the PDP two Saturdays ago and the deflation of the energy of the APC troops after getting nothing from the National Assembly elections, it would take a strong wind for ill-wind to come the way of the PDP in Akwa Ibom State today.

SATURDAY Vanguard, MARCH 9, 2019—17

18

18—SATURDAY Vanguard, MARCH 9, 2019

pregnant 'I discovered I was pregnant Being for the wrong while in after breaking up with my ex...' man school, changed *Continues from page 17

On the involvement of her ex regarding the upkeep of their child, Ogodo answered on the contrary.

“He hasn't been involved all these years.

Initially, he was doubting if I was pregnant for him. He never agreed that I was pregnant. But when the news was everywhere, he said '...but we were trying, she never got pregnant, how now that we have broken up and she's claiming to be pregnant. She was acting because I m an actress. Until I travelled to America to have my baby, he didn't get involved. He wasn't interested and I wasn't even interested in going after him or saying anything to him. Over the years, I have been able to take care of my child alone.”

•Uche Ogbodo

Challenges of singlemotherhood Talking about the challenges associated with single motherhood, Ogbodo described them as 'tough and unbearable. ' She said she never thought that she would be a single mother in her life.

Ogbodo further said as hard as it's dealing with her status as a single mother, the birth of her daughter,Mildred, who she said is about four years now had made her

Night of stars as Oma Nnadi premieres ' Being Annabel'

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electable actress, Oma Nnadi was in high spirits last Sunday night, when her colleagues, friends and close associates turned out in their numbers for the world premiere of her new movie, “ Being Annabel” which is due to set a new box office record in Nigeria.

The premiere, held at the prestigious IMax Cinemas, Lekki, Lagos, had all the cast of the movie including Desmond Elliot, Alexx Ekubo, Ebube Nwagbo, Padita Agu, Ken Erics, Yvonne Jegede, Chelsea Eze

among others in attendance.

Also, present at the event were actress Nuella Njubigbo, Uchenna Nnanna, Uche Ogbodo, IK Ogbonna, Yomi Casual, Dabby Chimere and Padita, who looked stunning walking the red carpet.

In a chat with Oma, she said she titled the movie “Being Annabel” because the lead character wanted to become who she's not. “ She wanted to be who she's not. Being Annabel, when she's not Annabel. That's how we came about the title, Being Annabel.

Alexx Ekubo who played

the role of Joro , the manipulative boy friend of one of the twins who tries to fit into the life of her successful twin sister described the movie as “ groundbreaking” adding that the had a great time filming that lasted for eight days in Lekki, Lagos.

The movie tells the story of a lady who plays into the manipulation of her friend to impersonate her deceased twin sister,

stronger.

“Single motherhood is tough I must confess.

I never thought that I would be a single mother in my life. But I am a catholic girl, we preach against abortion and other vices. And when you have a covenant with God and say I am going to be a mother and I am going to be a good wife, I don't ever want to break up with my husband when I get married.”

“These were covenants I made with God as a growing girl. So, when I got pregnant I thought about it. I was going to marry this man at the end of the day, but since it didn't work out it's unfortunate. But this baby came as a blessing. What if I had ended up marrying this man, I would still have been pregnant with this child. I don't I should have taken her off, may be God wanted to get pregnant so that he could teach me a lesson. My parents told me, you are not married yet, you could move on with your life. I think God has a reason for making me become pregnant while the relationship lasted. I have never been pregnant with other relationships. But I am pregnant with this relationship. That's a reason for this child, I'm keeping her. That's it. It has not been easy. It's being heartbreaking..”

The actress said she wants to get married, stressing that she's optimistic that the right man will come her way. Even though she admitted she currently has someone in her life, the actress extends an open invitation to anyone that will promise to make her happy.

“I am still optimistic, I want to be married. I am a Catholic girl. I want to be in a relationship where I will be happy; where I am allowed to live the way I want to live my life. So, if you want to make me happy, come on, I am ready.

Let's get married.”

“There's someone in my life but then, it's a relationship. We haven't defined it yet,” she said. Interestingly, Ogbodo has lost a lot of weight , transforming into a fiery looking African siren. She explained that she decided to keep fit, after she faced a lot of challenges in her life in the past, which propelled her to undergo transformation. “ Before the birth of my baby, I had issues with my ex, the break up and inbetween, I had my baby. These are life changing events. I had to sit back and think of what I really wanted to do with my life. And then, I said if I want to be what I wanted to be, I needed to lose a lot of weight . So, I had to re-orient myself; I had to change my personality and become a different person However, in keeping fit, Ogbodo said she starteda movement called, “Body Positive with Uche Ogbodo’ to help women who are going through challenges in their lives . These are challenges that can cause depression or something even more serious.

so as to inherit her riches. She must be entangled in her sister’s love triangle along with the demons inside of her.” The movie started showing yesterday in the cinemas nationwide.

my life

—Rising actress, Cynthia Godwin

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ast-rising actress, Cynthia Godwin,has opened up on her regrettable past, recounting how she got pregnant for the wrong man, who never loved her, while she was in the university.

In a chat with NollyNow, the busty actress revealed that her worst experience in life was getting pregnant for her campus boy friend who never loved her. “The worst thing that ever happened to me was getting pregnant for the wrong person, ‘ the actress recounted.

Continuing, she added, “ I didn’t know I was pregnant until after five months. When I discovered I was pregnant, I was scared but happy at the same time. As much as I wanted my baby daddy to be part of my life at that trying period, he disappointed me. Then I just gained admission into the University and he was in his 300level If he wasn’t too young to get a woman pregnant, then he ought to have been there for me but he wasn’t.”

Also, recounting her ugly experience at the just concluded auditions for the 2019 Big Brother Naija reality TV show, the beautiful actress said “I was at the auditions, but I couldn’t gain access into the arena because of the large crowd. I had to run for my life. I couldn’t breathe normally. Someone passed out and immediately I saw the guy passed out, I felt I was going to pass out too.”

Cynthia, whose real names are Okonkwo Cynthia Chiamak studied Mass Communication at the Imo State University. She is one of the fastest rising actresses in Nollywood at the moment.

Since debuting in the epic movie, “ Chidinwa My Only Child”, the actress has gone head to feature in many movies. Some of her movies include, ‘War Against Men’, ‘College Girls Reloaded’, ‘Escape’, ‘Down The River’, ‘JaJa the Great’ among others. She’s currently on set filming “Power of Virtue.” Cynthia named Mercy Johnson as her favourite actress, adding that in interpreting a role, “I can go really far. “I have featured in a movie, where I had to go topless to shoot a bathroom scene. I was wearing a

short, but the way they shot the movie you would believe I w a s totally naked,” she said.

**Oma Nnadi(m) with Ebube Nwagbo and Uchenna Nnanna

*Yvonne Jegede

*Cast of the movie at the premiere

•Cynthia Godwin

SATURDAY Vanguard, MARCH 9, 2019—19

By Adetutu Adesoji 08157255559 (sms only) adetutu.adesoji@gmail.com

2face celebrates 20-years in music

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Davido on cars shopping spree for members of his 30BG crew Award-winning pop star, Davido is about to reward members of his 30BG crew as he’s currently on a car shopping spree for all of them. The “Wonder Woman” crooner, is doing so as a way of showing how to treat people who are close to you The music star took to his Instagram

usic legend, 2face Idibia without a doubt has had a good run on the Nigerian music scene and he is grateful for how far he has come as he celebrates two decades on stage.

The African Queen hit maker took to Instagram to share an inspiring post about his journey in the music industry. The singer posted a video from his 10th year anniversary where some of his counterparts applauded his music prowess and humble nature. The post was accompanied with a message summing up his industry experience and also thanking his fans as he ushers them into a new phase of his career. “10years, many memories, many stories. Some of them don grow, some don leave music, some don blow pass me, some don hammer pass me. But all na one love take make an happen. 20-years on, massive thanks to all that have supported and have made our music global.

Special thanks to all our fans, una too much, welcome to the next chapter,” he wrote.

2face Idibia

stories during the week, where he announced his plans to buy cars for his crew. Just so we all know that he isn’t joking, Davido shared a photo of the first recipient of the car gift in his crew, Aloma.

“I’m on a buying car spree for all my n**gas! Nah Lati car go drop last! Let’s start with @aloma_dmw,” he wrote. He went on to share a photo of Aloma and his new Mercedes Benz whip

Yvonne Jegede confirms separation from husband

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Davido

Tiwa Savage

Adesua Etomi

Tiwa Savage debunks rumour of dumping Mavin Record

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op music act, Tiwa Savage has refuted reports that she has dumped Mavin Record for another record label. Reacting to a viral post that she has moved on from Mavin Record to join Temple Management Company, the singer debunked the news via her Insta-story as she said there is no iota of truth in the claim.

Although, the Kele Kele Love singer has had her fans on the edge of their seats regarding a big announcement she is about to make, leaving her record label is not on the agenda. Also, the mother of one recently deleted most of her Instagram pictures leaving only three pictures on the photosharing app which has left many wondering what her plans are.

wo weeks ago, we reported that popular actress; Yvonne Jegede dropped her husband’s name from her social media page, suggesting that her union with actor, Olakunle Abounce Fawole might be in troubled waters.

However, the new mother of one has confirmed separation from her now ex-husband.

She made the confirmation during a recent interview. According to her, she and her estranged husband started having issues few months into the pregYvonne nancy of her four-month-old Jegede son, Xavier. She stated also that due to irreconcilable differences, she has moved out of their matrimonial home on mutual agreement with Abounce.

Although their union was short lived, Yvonne noted that her marriage to Abounce was worth it.

Damilola Adegbite begs toasters to stop calling her

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Adesua Etomi sounds warning to nosy fan

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ctress, Adesua Etomi was going about her business on Instagram when a pregnancy spectator dropped a comment which didn’t sit well with the make-belief professional.

The award-winning actress who is the married to singer and actor, Banky W had posted a picture of herself on her page when one of her fans took to the comments section to note her observation.

The fan wrote; “I guess you are pregnant.”

Apparently upset by the comment, Adesua replied with; “You people need to stop this, Gosh,” putting the nosy fan in her place.

Damilola Adegbite

lluring actress, Damilola Adegbite has taken to her Instagram page to plead with men who are interested in her to stop calling her. According to the ‘Tinsel’ star, people keep calling her clothing store which she just opened, to ‘toast’ her, an act which is interrupting her new business as her staff are complaining.

“Please those of you that have been calling my store phone numbers to toast me, please stop it. The phones are not handled by me, my staff are complaining please, thank you,” she wrote.

20—SATURDAY Vanguard, MARCH 9, 2019

BY ROTIMI AGBANA When did you tell yourself that you were going to make a good actress?

I was a child when I made that decision. I was very young.

I used to write poetry, short stories and I mimic people a lot and I used to love to be part of the drama department. I love acting, this is my life.

When did you get your first opportunity to live your dream ?

I did some drama in church.

But the first professional work I did is: ‘The Room’. I played a significant role in the movie and it was shown on Dstv for a long time. It is actually a language movie.

Did someone introduce you to the industry?

Once I knew that this was what I was born to do, I put my ears to the ground to know where and when something was happening. Back in the days, nobody would give you an opportunity as a green horn.

If you are not a known face nobody will gamble their lead role on you. I attended auditions. However, for ‘The Room’, I got it through referral.

It had already been shot but MNET didn’t like the production. So, they got another director who had worked with me to re-produce the movie. That was how I got the role. I also had a bit of an edge because I could speak the language, Efik. So, they called and auditioned me and I got the role.

Was that the beginning of many more movie roles for you?

No. Other roles didn’t start coming after that. I was in the industry for a long time, just attending auditions and it was not really happening. At the time, I was schooling at the University of Calabar from where I will come to Lagos to attend auditions. It wasn’t just working. I did Next Movie Star Reality TV show in 2006. I was one of the last men standing, but I didn’t win. But with that experience I tried to launch myself in the industry, it still didn’t work. You know how Big Brother makes housemates stars overnight; my own didn’t work like that. I had to work and push until it started working in 2011. I did a TV series, Tales of Eves, which was my break. Things turned around after that.

And you later won the 9th AAMA as the Most Promising Act? Yes, I won a lot of awards with Kokoma, produced by Uduak Oguamanam, Emem Isong’s sister. I did Kokoma, which

My wedding will come as a surprise — Belinda Effah A

fter battling with the hard knocks of life to become a movie star, delectable actress, Belinda Effah, can look back and congratulate herself for the achievements she has recorded so far. Since debuting in the movie industry, Belinda has remained on top of her game, winning laurels including AMAA, BON, NEA, among others to show for her hard work and as one most-sought-after actresses in the Nigerian movie industry. In this interview, the actress speaks on her acting career, struggles, dreams and passion to always stand out. was a language movie and it earned me almost all the awards, AAMA, BON, NEA just name it. I won almost all the awards at that time.

You run a food company; can you tell us about it?

Yes, I run a food company called Favour Right Foods: there is favour and it is the right food for you.

Are you a freak for healthy food?

I eat healthy. I am an advocate of nutritive and healthy food. I love good food.

I love balanced diet.

Sometimes I am in need of certain condiments and I don’t find them; so I decided to provide these services to other people. If you want all those vegetables, the fishes, the secret recipes and everything regarding food we give it to you: raw food or cooked food.

We run catering services also.

We are basically your market.

We are just trying in our different ways. Even if you don’t like me, appreciate the fact that I am affecting lives. A lot of people were saying nice things about me, but that was the only one comment that really stood out to me. People just hate people out-rightly.

And one thing my directors used to say is that “I rather have an actor that overacts than the one that under acts”.

I just consoled myself with that.

Are you in a relationship right now?

I will be delving into my private life if I answer this question. People know me for my movies, I don’t want to expose my private life to them.

You know that once your private life is out there it is exposed to destruction. Let’s face it, a lot of people don’t wish you well. Some people want to feel they have control over your private life. This is the aspect I don’t want. I’d rather not say anything about it. Like my colleagues have just been flashing us with their weddings. Maybe, my own will come as a surprise.

What is the funniest thing you have heard about yourself in the media or from fans?

There is a recent one on my IG page. I recently got a nomination for an award from Ivory Coast, Best Actress.

Someone said, “That Belinda, she over acts”.

I was just like, “Is this the Some people want to congratulations feel they have control I am supposed to get”. If even over your private life. she hates me This is the aspect I so much I don’t want. I’d rather mean this is an achievement not say anything and an about it. Like my international colleagues have just b o d y recognizes me been flashing us with and you come their weddings. on my page to show your Maybe, my own will hate. I didn’t come as a surprise make sense.

Some say you are always cheerful and you hardly get sad. Is that who you are or just the face you show people?

That is my natural self.

There is no negative energy here. A lot of people see more of negativity than the positive things God is doing in their lives, but for me I prefer to magnify more of the positivity

•Belinda Effah

in my l i f e .

There w i l l always be challenges when you want to go to the next level of your life. I find solution to the challenge and I move on.

What has fame done for you?

Has it been more negative or more positive?

I think it’s more of positive.

When you enter this career, you should be sure that your privacy has been exchanged. Whatever about you is seen by all. You are no longer seen as a human but a super human. They don’t expect you to be broke. They don’t expect you to buy food on the streets like roasted corn or roasted plantain. And I am a down to earth person and I love my local food. I love to visit Amala joints to eat. I am a people’s person. Part of my dream is to help people. If I raise myself too much how will

I help t h e common man on the s t r e e t ?

People expect me to believe this larger-thanlife lifestyle, but I am just trying not to change who I am.

What other dreams do you have?

I just finished my first feature movie titled ‘Miracle’. You can check it out on our website. It’s my first movie and I did it in honor of God. I want to use it to give back to the society. The proceeds from the movie, I want to give it to charity. I want to give back to people that made me. People can make donations as they are led when they visit the website.

Is featuring in Hollywood also part of that dream?

Every actress has a yardstick and Hollywood is that yardstick. If I am called to feature in a Hollywood movie, I will be over the moon.

Nollywood is my core. I will never give up on it.

SATURDAY Vanguard, MARCH 9, 2019—21

Juliet Ebirim 08137897935 juliet.ebirim@gmail.com

On “The Kohinoor Experience”...

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Florence Ita-Giwa in double celebration …marks 73rd birthday, launches upscale restaurant

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t was a gathering of the creme-dela-creme in the society on Sunday, March 3rd, when Senator Florence Ita-Giwa held a double celebration. She marked her 73rd birthday in style and held the grand opening of her pet project 'Echoes of Calabar' restaurant located in the highbrow area of Victoria Island, Lagos.

It was a gathering where the effervescent 'Mama Bakassi', as she is popularly known, was honoured by not just her close friends, but also, by admirers and well-wishers from all walks of life. The politician, philanthropist and fashion icon was at her very

best as she basked in turning 73 and bringing the restaurant to fruition. The politician and style leader treated high society to a

lavish reception as the restaurant served food and drinks. Guests had the opportunity to sample various delicacies popular in the South-South region.

Some of the guests in attendance included Folorunso Alakija, Princess Abah Folawiyo, Mo Abudu, Ali Baba, Ini Edo, Kemen, Ifu Enada, Ayo Makun, Helen Paul, Shola Sobowale, Ngozi Nwosu, Uti Nwachukwu, Ndidi Obiorah among others.

Florence ItaGiwa, a former senator who represented Cross River South constituency, is known as a woman favoured with the gift of turning everything she touches to gold.

She is known for her love for cooking, as she is said to be an expert in the kitchen.

igerians seeking exciting lifestyle experiences will have most of their expectations fulfilled with the opening of The Kohinoor Experience Hub. The Commercial Head, Mrs. Nkenie James company’s corporate head office at Kusenla, IkateElegushi, Lagos, revealed that The Kohinoor Experience Hub is fully ready to hit the market and public space in the last week of March.

With over ten business units, the hub houses a lounge, restaurant,, bar, cafe among others. The mall has complimenting shortlet apartments, which, as well, hosts on its rooftop the Skyline Lounge, Skyline Spar and Skyline Gym. “ Our Kohinoor Experience Hub would be bringing a huge fascinating go-to-place for all lifestyle desires. A place to relax with friends and a workzone that enables networking, amongst other offers, The Kohinoor Mall designed with exciting and tranquil ambience, incorporates the yearnings of all age groups under one roof.

Top celebrities to “Knockout” this Easter

Knockout - Chief Olododo

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inema lovers in Nigeria are in for the best of moments this Easter, as Knockout, Wale Adenuga Productions’ big budget film goes into cinemas across the country on Easter Friday, April 19.

Producer of the star-studded film and Managing Director of the production outfit, Wale Adenuga Jnr, said the film offers Nigerians the best of comedy for the com-

ing Easter Season and beyond.

He explained that the organisation has put the best of its resources into the film and encouraged cinema lovers to savour the memorable moments the film promises.

The star-studded movie features Sola Sobowale, Chiwetalu Agu, Toyin Abraham, Patience Ozokwor (Mama G), Odunlade Adekola, Ngozi Nwosu, Jide Kosoko, Segun Arinze, Desmond Elliot, Hafiz Oyetoro, Ali Nuhu, Kenny Blaq, 9ice, Charles Okocha, Woli Arole, Gbenga Adeyinka, Klint Da Drunk, Akpan & Oduma e.t.c. The film is directed by one of Nigeria’s leading female directors, Patience Oghre.

In the film, news about a boxing competition with a cash prize of One Billion Naira ($3 Million) hits town and sends a group of people into a hilarious frenzy, after which they devise mischievous means to participate with eyes firmly fixed on the prize money. The clumsy boxer they choose and the crazy characters they meet along the way result in a myriad of mayhem and madness.

Femi Falodun CEO breaks new grounds

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reative Communications and Digital marketing company, ID Africa, has announced the appointment of Femi Falodun as CEO of the organization.

This was upon the organization’s acquisition of NET News Limited, the parent company of TheNETng, 234Star, Neusroom, Orin and others.

Prior to his appointment as CEO, Femi served as the COO of ID Africa for four years, where he oversaw the creation of Nigeria’s first PR mobile app and established the country’s first independent music streaming service, ORIN, while also developing Nigerian Twitter Map (Twittermap.ng), a social conversation and influencer-mapping tool.

Femi originally served as Head of the digital department at BHM. In his new role, he will oversee the

management and operations of ID Africa following the acquisition of theNETng. Both organizations are owned by the BHM group, which is founded by veteran PR professional, Ayeni Adekunle.

Speaking on his new role as CEO, Femi Falodun said, “I am particularly excited about this appointment, as it is an opportunity to further build the organization to a position of strength, while pursuing a clear direction for innovation, operational efficiency and value creation.”

Femi holds a BSc. from Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, an MBA (Marketing) from University of Lagos and a Post Graduate Diploma in Marketing from CIM, UK. He is member (MCIM) of the Chartered Institute of Marketing (CIM) UK, a certified Digital Marketer and Trainer.

22—SATURDAY Vanguard, MARCH 9, 2019

By AYO ONIKOYI 08052201215 onikoyi68@gmail.com

Collaborating with Rapture brought me closer to her roots

Burna Boy’s ‘Dangote’ hit top spot on MMMC

O

NE of Nigeria’s hottest music sensations, Damini Ogulu popularly known as Burna Boy, had the best year in 2018 extending to 2019. Burna churned out top singles that disturbed the airwaves, therefore; breaking boundaries and releasing top notch visuals, that gained massive rotation on Radio and TV, scooping home numerous music awards as well as landing an endorsement deal with Star Lager Beer, making him the first brand ambassador.

In a bid to remain afloat in 2019, the artiste dropped a track titled ‘Dangote’ few weeks ago, alongside a breathtaking visuals directed by ace cinematograper, Clearance Peters.

The success of the track made Burna Boy clinch a top spot on the Mp3bullet Monthly Majority Choice (MMMC), for the month of March, hosted by Mp3Bullet music platform.

“For the month of March, Burna Boy clinched the top spot with his new joint titled ‘Dangote’. The song was voted number one by numerous readers and music lovers through an online pool conducted by top music pundit” said the Chief Executive of Mp3Bullet, Akinsanya Ismaila Oluwaseun aka “Boboskie.

Other artistes making the list are; Kizz Daniel – ‘Madu’, Zlatan Ft BurnaBoy – ‘Killin Dem’, 2Face – ‘Oyi’, Falz – ‘Talk’, Davido Ft Zlatan ‘BumBum’, Timaya ‘Balance’, Victor AD ft Davido – ‘Tire you’, Davido – ‘Fall Remix’ ft Busta Rhymes and Prayah, Olamide – ‘Woske’, Slimcase – ‘Azaman’ ft 2Baba, Peruzzi, DJ Neptune and Larry Gaaga and Vector – ‘This Vector Self ’.

Falz, Folu Storm, other celebrities grace MTV Base’s 14th Anniversary bash

I

T was a night of exhilarating fun and non-stop excitement as MTV Base celebrated fourteen years of showcasing African music to the world. The Mainland Block Party takeover was not only compered by MTV Base VJ, Nenny B, alongside actor, Bolly Lomo but also featured performances from A-list musicians such as Zlatan, Chinko Ekun, Skiibii and Ycee.

With over 1500 party goers in attendance, the MTV Base partnered event featured everything from dance competitions to a relaxing poolside for guests to unwind at. When asked about why it is important to create such a complete experience for MTV Base fans, Solafunmi Oyeneye, Senior Channel Manager of MTV Base, said: “At MTV Base, we like to go big or go home. We knew that including our faithful audience in this year’s anniversary celebration was something we had to do, so it was imperative to ensure that they came to a party that would give them the complete MTV Base experience that they have come to know and love.”

Fans of the channel were not the only ones present at the celebration party. A number of A-list celebrities such as Falz, Niniola, DJ Spinall, DJ Neptune, Reekado Banks, Ehiz, Sammy Walsh, Folu Storms, Bizzle Osikoya, Tosin Ajibade (Olorisupergal), Sensei Uche, Kemi Smallz, Mr. Real, CDQ, Jaywon, Iyanya, Okiki DFT, Blaqbonez, Oluwakaponeski, Victor AD, Sess Beats, Lyta, Somto Cody Akanegbu, SamPhrank, Tomi Thomas (Mayorkun’s manager), Shakar El, Awazi as well as Osagie John-Osarenz also made appearances at the party. It was truly a memorable moment for many of the attendees as they got to interact with their favourite A-list celebrities.

— UK-rapper, Mz J4zzie

A

UK-based female rapper, Mz J4zzie, during the week said that working on the song ‘Sho Ready ’ an Afro-rap sound, had connected her to her Nigerian roots.

MzJ4zzie, whose real name is Jasmine Ilori and born in the UK to Nigerian parents, recently collaborated with a Nigerian singer, Rapture, to produce Afro-rap.

She told the News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, on telephone that she had never visited Nigeria since she was born. The rapper said that the Nigerian music industry had become significant in helping Nigerians in the Diaspora have a feel of their Nigerian heritage.

“This is a very big way of connecting with my roots. I was born and raised in the UK and I have not yet visited my home land, Nigeria.

“So, being involved in afro-beats and collaborating with Rapture to produce Afro-rap sound has really allowed me to connect with my roots.”

“Sho ready’ has been accepted because it has been trending on the social media platforms as well as gaining several airplays in Nigeria and the UK,” she said. The ‘Shut Down’ crooner who is the co-founder of R-I Records based in the UK said that Afro-rap was taking over the music industry worldwide. She said that her label would be willing to work with any Nigerian artist who would be ready to exhibit great talent and produce good sound.

Comedian AY, Toyin Abraham, Funky Mallam head to Cinema with ‘Mr. President’

A

fter having minor setbacks in cinema schedules and date mix up, a new Nollywood movie, ‘Mr. President’ is now ready for the cinemas this weekend. Ayo Makun popularly known as AY Comedian, Toyin Abraham, Shirley Ann, and Funky Mallam are set to be on your faces across cinemas from March 8.

‘Mr. President’ was produced by the

new entrant, Shirley Ann Ede, who is set to make a bold statement on Nigeria’s election.

She is set to become the first woman to confront political entities using entertainment as the platform to drive her message. Shirley Ann Ede is a global thinker and a trailblazer who is ready to push Nollywood to global standards with the quality of her works.

Faces at the private screening of “Code Wilo”

I

t was a night of glitz and glamour as Heritage Bank hosted the private screening of Cut 24 Production’s political blockbuster, ‘Code Wilo’.

Set at Terra Kulture, the evening saw stars grace the red carpet in grand style with the theme of the event as “African Style Elegant”.

Femi Odugbemi, Shaffy Bello, Yaw, Sophie Alakija, Efe Irele and more stepped out in gorgeous designs for the movie premiere.

Speaking at the premiere, the movie producer and director, Hauwa Allabura, expressed her delight in being able to explore her creative skills while telling a unique story.

“After my last movie “The Eve” I wanted to tell a story that is unique and relevant to the state of the country. One that beautifully explores the rich culture of our land and distinctively addresses the issues we are faced with,” she said.

Produced by Hauwa Allahbura, ‘Code Wilo’ is a story that touches on themes like preelection violence, politics, the horrors caused by the powers that be in certain areas in the South-South pre-1999 democracy.

SATURDAY Vanguard, MARCH 9, 2019 — 23

Battered in public, healing anonymously I

t is a bright, warm afternoon at the five star, upscale hotel in a Lagos suburb. Already, men and women of the smart crowd have already gathered in the expansive lounge for meetings, brunch or both. A little way down a winding corridor lined with art is a large meeting room, beautifully but simply decorated. The sitting is banquet style, with the tables sitting about fifty- mostly women and a sprinkling of young men. One table at the back sits a few Septugenarians. Everyone looks particularly gorgeous, especially for a Monday morning.

A tall light skinned woman hands out small pieces of paper to visitors. “Wifi”, she whispers as explanation for the number printed on the paper. In the front of the room, working a public address system and a projector is another woman.

She is giving a lecture about a subject she is clearly passionate about.

She is Efe Anaughe, Barrister at Law and the founder of War ren Rose Foundation, a NonGovernmental Organization that runs Domestic Violence Anonymous (DVA), a clinic for abused women where healing is pursued in a group.

Fiercely protective of the women who submit themselves to DVA, Barrister Efe as she is popularly called does not allow the womenaged between 17 and 60 years- to be called by name or be compelled to tell anyone their names. Rather, they are

referred to as Jane(s).

Anaughe, who also anchors a radio program further explains that the meetings are held on Mondays (the last of every month) so that spouses of the abused women would not easily miss their presence or even suspect anything when the women are going out. “It is the same reason why I encourage them to dress beautifully. Apart from the fact that it boosts their self esteem, no one would suspect they are coming for a program like this”.

The process is rigorous and defined from start to finish.

She receives every ‘Jane’ in her office, usually at the instance of the abused woman who would just walk in. “When they come on their own like that, it is usually an indication that they are tired of the abuse but we still have to ensure that they are willing to take action. It is one thing to be tired of something and it is another thing to be willing to do what it takes to stop it”. Janes are subjected to physical and psychiatric evaluations to ensure their mental stability.

Then the journey, often long, begins.

Barrister Efe meets the ‘Jane’ from time to time for counseling. Where possible, she approaches the abusive spouse and seeks reconciliation. This rarely works. Asked how she decides when a ‘Jane’ is

International Women’s Day: Who is a woman?

By Chinasa Afigbo

T

ouch her hair and you’ll feel strands of calmness and beauty. Look into her almond eyes you’ll see rays of nurture for the home. She carries the foundation of a nation at heart; the home.

She speaks and lives virtuously regardless of an opportunity to do otherwise.

She is passionate, strongwilled, a fighter, a dream chaser, a helper and a support system, only if you let her bloom and unleash the desires of her heart.

She is an art of beauty, and mastery of all forms of fecundity. In a world that says her voice shouldn’t be heard,

she makes history with her God-given art.

The girl is the mother of the woman; she gives life, strength she chooses while pulling through the seed that grows in her for nine months, pain she embraces during the unseen rituals of childbirth in the labour room, love she feebly falls to as she lay her child on the cot, hope she holds onto during the joys of motherhood, laughter she abuses in public behind her wet pillow, as through her tears, she is valiant. Every child in the neighbourhood feeds from her pot, Is that love or selflessness?

She is a startling abyss of unfolding events, the kernel of posterity.

ready to leave a n abusive relationship, s h e s a i d s h e p u t s n o pressure o n them. “ T h e decision is very personal”, s h e stresses.

A t D V A , one such Jane is first in the series of three to share her story with t h e others.

She tells her fellows of how she was a well to do businesswoman and professional before her abuser- her husband and a pastor- began to accuse her of prostituting herself with those giving her contracts.

She stopped her business in order to please him, but the

beatings continued even after several children. With no means of income, she continued to endure for years. Now ready to do away with the relationship, she had nowhere to go. Another ‘Jane’ spoke of being handed over to the psychiatric hospital at

the instance of her ‘better half ’, though a seasoned and thorough professional who continues to excel at her job.

Thankfully, there are many success stories. One Jane who now volunteers passionately shares her story, of how she slept in a school for many months very many years ago, but now boasts educated, well adjusted and well to do children.

Another volunteer is engaged to a new, responsible and romantic man with whom she has built a t h r i v i n g business. They encourage the other Janes and share their experiences from time to time.

According to Anaughe, the roses eventually come, but the thorns of discouragement threaten DV Anonymous.

Apart from the common issues of finance, with which virtually every NGO in Nigeria grapples , the lawyer reveals that not every Jane is serious about getting a new life. She shares with WW instances of “Janes gone bad”. She even had a Jane who, having been liberated from an abusive spouse, turned to full scale prostitution after dumping her young children, operating out of the shelter that she shared with other Janes.

Yet having to deal with bad behavior is nothing compared with challenges of shelter, and Janes have had to travel as far as Ogun, Oyo, Osun, and even the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, in order to escape abusive spouses. Some volunteers give accommodation, but it is often unsustainable for Janes and their children who then have to change schools, other arrangements and jettison their private lives.

Barrister Efe, ironically enough, has never been a victim of Domestic Violence and stumbled on the subject completely by accident, while working on something else.

“I found that a disturbing number of women are physically abused in their marriages, yet do not speak out about it for various psyco -social reasons. I decided to create a haven for them where they can take their time and heal, as well as help one another ”.

Five years down the line, she has no regrets, decrying the trend where genuine NGOs are used and dumped by various levels of government while giving little or no support.

24—SATURDAY Vanguard, MARCH 9, 2019 ROTIMI AGBANA 07054964685 rotimiagbana@gmail.com

•Basorge

Nigerian entertainer tunes over Buhari's

Ara

T

BY ROTIMI AGBANA

he Presidential and National Assembly elections have come and gone, but the echoes are still reverberating across the country. The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, in the early hours of Wednesday, declared President Buhari as the winner of the 2019 Presidential election, having polled over 15,191,847 votes, winning in 19 states to coast home to victory.

However, controversies have continued to trail the announcement with his main rival, Peoples Democratic Party,PDP,presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, rejecting the results and threatening to head to the electoral tribunal soon.

Following the re-election of President Buhari, and the circumstances that surrounded the conduct of the election, Showtime spoke to some Nigerian entertainers. Here, is their response.

•Yetunde Bakare

•Seun Omojola

Buhari is the future of our children — actress, foluke daramola ssuming he didn’t win , who should have won the election?

This election is the most conservative in the history of Nigeria.

Buhari spent nothing but integrity to contest for his re-election. In subsequent elections, the idea that people have to spend billions of naira for elections is changing. Atiku spent billions of naira, if not trillions, yet he lost the election.

Buhari is the future of our children. His first 4-years in office was excruciatingly painful but this 4-years, we will be better for it. Meanwhile, if Atiku had won the election, we would have enjoyed for 2 years and then our suffering will start again because he will like to recoup the monies he spent during his campaign.

So, the best decision Nigerians made was re-electing President Buhari .

A

Motunrayo Motunrayo

Buhari has murdered democracy in Nigeria- Charly Boy For how long must we live like animals in this big jungle called Nigeria.

Buhari has murdered the last vestige of democracy that existed in Nigeria.

Nigeria is now officially a fascist state.

The next four years won’t be pretty, Nigerians you have been warned.

•Junior Pope •Sonia Nwankwo

•Charly Boy

It’s fine if Buhari’s re-election will improve the living standard of Nigerians —— Musician, Ara I am apolitical. I don’t support any party for now; but as long as Buhari’s reelection improves the quality of life for Nigerians, then its fine.

I don’t know why people voted for Buhari again- Actress, Daniella Okeke I really don’t understand how a reasonable person will vote for Buhari again? If you ask them the only thing they would say is “He is fighting corruption.” Yet corruption in Nigeria has defied solution in the past 4-years. I guess that’s why they removed the Chief Justice of the Federation and replaced him with his person. So even if PDP goes

to court, they will still uphold the APC victory.

What a country! Nigeria which way?

Buhari’s re-election fairly agreeable — Actor/Comedian, Basorge Tariah I think it is fairly agreeable. It wasn’t without hiccups certainly. However, we take solace in the fact that there was a record of widespread voting. It is now in the interest of Nigerians and Nigeria for losers to accept defeat and congratulate their opponents to show their sense of goodwill and sincere intentions to Nigerians. Peace is achieved at the altar of sacrifice and humility.

Buhari’s re-election is sad and patheticFela’s daughter, Motunrayo Anikulapo-Kuti It’s the same old criminal behavioral problems.

Everybody wants to loot and clean mouth. It’s sad and pathetic that Buhari was re-elected.

Buhari deserved the victory - Actress, Chinwe Isaac The conduct of the election was cool, if Saraki could lose, then it was free and fair. Buhari deserves to complete his 8-years. We can’t just be changing president like new cloths. I feel it went well and it’s the will of God. Next time, Atiku or another.

Four years is not forever - Musician, Righteousman Four years is not forever, neither is 8 years. No matter what happens, we are created for greatness. War is ugly and violence is never a solution The election was a reflection of a failed society- Actress, Belinda Effah We are still divided as a nation, a nation where ethnicity, tribal influence runs deep in our blood. A nation where self-interest is more important than that of the people; a nation where the leaders don’t believe in service to humanity, rather they believe in handing out handouts and expecting the people to beg them to perform their civil duties. The 2019 election was a reflection of a failed society; a selfish, greedy people parading themselves as leaders who have no business leading us. Leadership is in service.

SATURDAY Vanguard, MARCH 9, 2019—25 ROTIMI AGBANA 07054964685 rotimiagbana@gmail.com

rs sing discordant s re-election

•Inem Peters

•Chilly B

•Daniella Okeke

•Lillian Afegbai

•Paul Play Dairo

•Foluke Daramola

Wole Ojo power are behind the killings and brutality.

On the other hand, the people that promised us security didn’t keep to their words. If there was security as promised the election would have been peaceful.

•Belinda Effah

It was a shame- Actor, Junior Pope Shame, sincerely I thought we have gone past this caricature pattern of election. I thought by this time, our leaders would have known the true meaning and purpose of wanting to be elected.

It is to serve the people and not to embezzle public fund which is why they go to any length to ensure that they win the election.

Nigerians should accept the results- Actress, Peggy Ovire Nigeria has voted so let’s accept the results and allow whoever that won the election to do his job.

Making a fuse or fighting about it only brings pain and destruction to the country. What’s even sadder is the fact that only the poor masses will suffer.

The election exposed our incompetence to the worldMusician, Paul Play Dairo The conduct of the 2019

•Queeneth Agbor

presidential and National Assembly elections has exposed our incompetence to the international community. If this is the achievement made from billions of naira allocated to INEC, I beg to say it’s totally embarrassing and unacceptable.

INEC is meant to be an independent entity. Nigerian politics is elusive and it’s a perpetual conundrum.

Buhari disenfranchised Nigerians- Singer, Felix Duke It’s obvious that the election was rigged. Buhari and INEC have disenfranchised Nigerians. It is so sad, when are we going to get it right. It is about time Nigerians stand up and stop this.

It should have been peacefulActress, Sonia Nwankwo A lot happened which most of us witnessed on TV and social media. I would have preferred ta situation where Nigerians were

•Righteousman

allowed to cast our votes peacefully after the election was postponed. It was actually painful that some citizens lost their lives as a result of performing their civic duties which was not fair at all.

More needs to be done to our electoral system- Musician, African China For me, I think something has to be done on our system of voting. Enough of all this old papa child’s play. Since we have a machine that reads our voter ’s card just the ATM reads our card before paying your cash, same way they can make the card reader connect with a system that will show you all the categories to vote for.

Nigeria has a long way to go- Actress, Lillian Afegbai Nigeria obviously has a long way to go, till day three they still couldn’t announce the winner, how sad! First, they postponed the election, and later, they couldn’t collate and announce the results. What do they expect us to think? We can’t give up on Nigeria, change will come someday.

I can’t believe Buhari was re-elected- Actor, Anthony Monjaro My opinion is that they rigged the election. I cannot believe Buhari is coming back for another 4-years. I am really in pain. We are about to go to the land of nowhere.

It lacked adequate security - Actress, Inem Peters I am not impressed at all. In fact, as we speak now, I am sick. The killing showed the lack of preparation in terms of security. My heart is heavy, I am bitter. I am not going to mention names. The people who are desperate for

•Peggy Ovire

26—SATURDAY

Vanguard, MARCH 9 9,, 2019

bunmsof@yahoo.co.uk

Is your brain vitamin deficient? - How to boost your memory and mood W

e all know the importance of getting enough vitamin C from fruit or vitamin D from the sun, but experts are concerned that many people could be suffering from a subtle deficiency in less well-known vitamins, such as folate or vitamin A, thanks to today’s poor diets filled with convenience food. You might not know you’re defiant—but you can be sure your brain does. It might be struggling to let you know through signs you’ve been ignoring, including intermittent headaches, periods of anxiety, foggy-headedness and lapses in concentration.

A major U.S nutrition report, which analysed the diets of nearly 9,000 people, found that significant numbers fell far below the recommended intake of vitamins and minerals.

Worryingly, some consumed only 15 per cent of the recommended daily allowance of important brain nutrients.

When it comes to brain health, you will know you’re running too low as marked behavioural and personality changes—such as depression, anxiety, irritability, insomnia and loss of appetite— will start to appear. In one study, lack of vitamin B1 meant test subjects felt anxious, hysterical, nauseous and depressed. Other studies have found deficiencies of vitamin C, B1 and B2 can bring on hypochondria and even psychopathic tendencies. It is interesting to note that these symptoms appeared before any physical signs of deficiency were noticed.

It is therefore possible that millions of people are living with deficiencies that, could be severely impacting their quality of life. Check through the deficiency signs below to see if you are unwittingly starving your brain of the nutrients it needs. Of all the vitamins are possible the most important. They are involved in helping turn sugar into energy and protect the brain from toxins and damage.

In fact, there are similarities between the symptoms of Bvitamin deficiencies and the most common brain disorders. Your brain uses up B vitamins very quickly, so it is best to replenish them regularly throughout the day with snacks and meals. By packing your diet with as wide a variety of plants and vegetables as you possibly can, you will top up your nutrient reserves and ensure your brain is firing on all cylinders all the time. You will soon notice a subtle change in your taste buds and your body will start feeling satisfied earlier on in your meal. You moods will become more stable, your memory will

improve and you will start losing weight.

The nutrients you really need

Vitamin A: Critical for vision, bone growth, skin and tissue repair, as well as building healthy cells in the gut and brain.

Signs of Deficiency: Poor night vision, mouth ulcers, acne, thrush or cystitis, dry skin, diarrhoea and a lowered resistance to infections— especially chest infections.

Plant Sources: Sweet potatoes, carrots, apricots, melons, asparagus, tangerines, peppers, broccoli, squash, mangoes, watercress, papayas, pumpkins, tomatoes and green leafy vegetables.

Folate—B9: A group of vitamins essential for oxygen delivery to the brain, proper cell division and the formation of red blood cells.

Signs of Deficiency: Loss of appetite, anaemia, prematurely greying hair, anxiety, depression, cracked lips, eczema, as well as subtle cognitive difficulties such as changes in mood and memory challenges.

Plant Sources: Nuts, beetroot, parsley, spinach, sprouts, sesame seeds, hazelnuts, cashew nuts, walnuts, broccoli, avocados, wholemeal products, asparagus, pulses and bananas.

Thiamine—B1: This helps our body use carbohydrates as energy. It also plays a key role in nerve, Signs of Deficiency: muscle and heart function.

Increased risk of infection, Signs of deficiency: Poor fatigue, poor hair condition, memory, irritability, confused eczema or dermatitis, nervous thinking and an inability to complaints, constipation, concentrate. anaemia and mouth Plant sources: Wholegrain oversensitive to temperature. cereals, nuts, watercress, Plant Sources: Not present peppers, lettuce, courgettes, in plant foods – use B12 fortified asparagus, mushrooms, peas, yeast products, breakfast cabbage, cereals or a potatoes and supplement. pulses.

You can also Niacinfind vitamin B3: Helps the B12 in meat, body make fish, poultry, energy and eggs and boosts mood. d i a r y Signs of products.

Deficiency: Vitamin Lack of C: A A major U.S energy, primary nutrition report, insomnia, player in headaches, determining which analysed the p o o r the quantity diets of nearly 9,000 memory, and quality scaly skin, of brain people, found that bleeding and transmissions. significant numbers more gums, Signs of fell far below the anxiety and Deficiency: depression.

Lack of recommended P l a n t energy, low intake of vitamins Sources: immunity, Cabbages, bleeding or and minerals asparagus, t e n d e r tomatoes, g u m s , cauliflowers, nosebleeds, courgettes, slow wound squash, pulses, potatoes, peas, healing, easy bruising and red peanuts, sunflower seeds, pimples on skin. tahini, pine nuts, mushrooms, Plant Sources: Citrus fruits, green leafy vegetables, prunes melons, tomatoes, peppers, and figs. potatoes, broccoli, Caballamin—B12: This is strawberries, watercress, an essential nutrient critically cabbage, peas and kiwi fruit. important for optimal brain Vitamin E: Helps keep the function. brain functioning by protecting

it against toxins.

Signs of Deficiency: Slow wound healing, loss of muscle tone, easy bruising and exhaustion after light exercise.

Plant Sources: Seeds, nuts, coldpressed vegetable oils, wholegrain products, beans, peas, sweet potatoes, coats, cereals and green leafy vegetables.

Vitamin D: As well as its important role in bones, teeth and immunity, Vitamin D has a stimulating effect on brain proteins.

Signs of Deficiency: Low mood and foggy-thinking, muscle weakness or stiffness backache, hair loss, anaemia and softening of the bones and teeth.

Plant Sources: Cold-pressed vegetable oil. Other sources are eggs, butter, fish and sunshine.

Magnesium: An indispensable brain nutrient which boosts memory.

Signs of Deficiency: Irritability, fatigue and poor concentration, sleeping difficulties, short-term memory loss, emotional ups and downs and being easily angered, discouraged or depressed, as well as being easily startled and sensitive to loud noises.

Plant Sources: Almonds, cashews, pecans, Brazil nuts, beans, potato skins, raisins, peas, garlic and green leafy vegetables.

Copper: Necessary for the growth and development of the brains, heart, connective tissue and bone.

Signs of Deficiency: Anaemia, irregular heartbeats, skin pigment loss and thyroid problems.

Plant Sources: Sesame seeds, cashew nuts, soya beans, sunflower seeds, macadamia

nuts, lentils, blackstrap molasses, dried fruits, avocados and chickpeas.

Iodine: Essential for the normal development of the brain.

Signs of Deficiency: Sluggish metabolism, apathy, dry skin and hair, depression, irritability and difficulty concentrating.

Plant Sources: Seaweed or a supplement.

Iron: Vital in the formation of the specialised fatty covering of a brain cell.

Signs of Deficiency: Anaemia, a sore, pale tongue, low resistance to infection, loss of appetite, fatigue, listlessness and sensitivity to cold.

Plant Sources: Pumpkin seeds, parsley, almonds, cashews, raisins, Brail nuts, walnuts, dates, sesame seeds, pecans, green leafy vegetables, prunes, dried apricots, tofu, wholegrains and pulses.

Selenium: An essential nutrient and trace mineral that impacts brain function. Nerve cells require selenium to produce an important brain antioxidant called glutathione.

Signs of Deficiency: Low mood, depression, anxiety, lowered immunity, cataracts, high blood pressure, frequent infections and premature ageing.

Plant Sources: Mushrooms, cabbage, courgettes, avocados, lentils, seaweed and Brazil nuts.

-Adapted from Feed Your Brain: 7 Steps To A Lighter, Brighter You! By Delia McCabe.

Vanguard, SATURDAY, MARCH 9, 2019—27

Twitter: @yetundearebi yetty5050@yahoo.co.uk 08054700825 Yetunde Arebi Hi,

I

love it when friends and readers respond to topics discussed here and then it leads to another. After reading Lande and Kemi’s story published penultimate weekend, I had the opportunity to discuss with friends who wanted to share their opinion as well as talk about unwholesome personal experiences with in-laws generally and bothers-in-law specifically. Many were of the view that Lande and Kemi’s relationship was much better than if it were Moyin’s husband that was involved with Lande. Some opined that their families ought to have allowed the love relationship to take its natural course as it was most likely destined not to work.

That way, both would have no regrets, nor doubts in their minds. The fact that Moyin’s marriage to Kemi’s brother eventually hit the rock, even without the help of Kemi and Lande is a testimony that what would be, would be, no matter what. However, there were also those who agreed that the relationship was unhealthy and that separating the two was the best deal for the families. What’s your take?

You still have a chance to share it with me and other readers here. My contact is above. However, let me share these two stories about randy brothers-in-law as narrated by the victims for your relaxation this election weekend. Please stay safe as you go about your civic responsibility.

May the Lord heal our land of every problem. Cheers.

Tina, (42), says her brother-in-law’s infidelity drove her sister to Christianity.

It did not happen to me as a young girl, but as an adult, widowed with two children. You may find this difficult to believe just as I did too when it happened.

I was expecting my second child when I lost my husband after barely two years of marriage. I was shattered, utterly devastated and barely managed to carry the pregnancy through. A series of events that followed the incident forced me to move out of our matrimonial home, which also happened to be my parents-in-law’s home. My husband being the only male child of his parents had been given an apartment in their big compound which we lived in until his death. One would have thought that they would be nice and doting on me and their grandchildren who incidentally would be the only ones to bear their name anyway, but the reverse was the case. It was as if they wished that I had died instead of their son. Yetunde, that is a story for another time. I barely managed to remain with them for the one year that they insisted that I must mourn their son.

Since I did not want to return to my parents’ house, (Ibadan) and I was not emotionally fit enough to stay on my own, I moved in with my elder sister and her husband, on their request. They lived in a four bedroom duplex with their children.

My sister’s husband has a reputation with women. In fact, his wife knows him too well and his affairs has caused a few upsets in their marriage such that she had tried to sue for divorce once. However, I could never have guessed that Brother BJ’s (not real name) roving eyes could turn to me. One afternoon, I laid on the sofa in the living room to take a nap while waiting for the driver to bring the children from school. My sister had gone to see to her business and I was unemployed at the time, having resigned from my job after my husband’s death. I was at the verge of setting up my own business too. So, I began dreaming that someone was caressing me.

At first, it did not seem real but when it became more intense, I tried to turn, and met an obstruction and quickly opened my eyes. I was shocked to see my sister ’s husband with a big bulge in his trousers, bending over me. This is a man I’d known for over 10 years at the time. He was supposed to be like a big brother to me as I was the only other girl in my family besides his wife.

I asked him what he thought he was doing and all he could say was that he was sorry. He said he thought that I should have been missing my husband and would not mind a little action. He figured since he was available there was no need for me to go scouting for a man, more so, I could

Untamed desires

However, there were also those who agreed that the relationship was unhealthy and that separating the two was the best deal for the families catch my fun without anyone knowing I was having sex. I asked him if I had complained to him and even if I had, must he be the one to give it to me? I could not hold back my anger and I really gave it to him. I used the opportunity to counsel him on his escapades with women, especially their housemaids, a behaviour which had by then become public even in the neighbourhood. One of their maids had been forced to cry out to the neighbour ’s attention when he wouldn’t stop harassing her. Though he did apologise, I did not see any sign of remorse on his face, just anger and resentment that he’d been turned down. However, I knew it was time for me to move out. I had been there exactly two months and 22 days. I started making frantic efforts at getting my own place which I did after another two months. I

doubt if the man will ever change. He is close to 60 years old and still has ‘street’ written all over him.

Anything in skirt would do so long as he gets his relief. I doubt if he has not done it with one of his sisters before.

I only told my sister about it after I had moved out of their house. She was not really surprised as the idea of him doing such a thing had also crossed her mind too. But since I did not report him, she had erroneously concluded that there was still some decency left in him after all.

She only apologised again on his behalf and begged that we both forget about it. That my sister is now a born again Christian is all because of him. 70 percent of her prayers are about him and his philandering.

Beth, (32) says though she was very young at the time, she was able to resist her brother-in-law turned predator.

My cousin’s husband used to be a real pain in the neck and it was not hidden to most family members. I used to wonder why his wife wouldn’t just walk out of the marriage since she could sustain herself without him. But I think she wanted to continue being Mrs at all cost, when it was obvious that the husband was not committed in any way.

Eventually, the family had to ban female members from visiting their home unaccompanied. His case was that bad.

Brother Jaiye began making passes at me when I was 16. By law, I think he qualified as a pedophile

because all the girls he molested then were in their teens. I had a holiday job somewhere in Surulere and next door to one of his friend’s house. So, he would stop by to see me anytime he was there.

He would give me rides home because our house was just two bus stops from theirs. Sometimes, I followed him to their house to see my cousin and their little daughter before going home. One day, he dropped by at my office to say that my cousin was expecting me at their house. I did not suspect anything until we arrived there and discovered that she had gone out with their baby and maid.

He insisted I should wait for them, gave me a bottle of soft drink and slotted a video. Then, he brought out an album and came to sit next to me on the sofa.

As he was explaining the pictures to me, he began caressing my shoulders. I did not say anything as I was not sure if what I was thinking was what was unfolding.

Suddenly he turned to kiss me full on the mouth and I pushed him away. I was really rough with him, threatening to report to his wife. He apologised and I agreed to allow it pass but I did not wait for his wife again.

From then on, he would never waste an opportunity to steal a quick kiss or squeeze. When I could not take it anymore, I had to confide in some of my cousins of about the same age. I was shocked at the feedback I got. One of them revealed that he had also been molesting her. She told similar stories of how he’d gone about lying and taking her to their house. We therefore decided to inform some elderly women in the family.

We had assumed that the women would help us talk to our older cousin about her husband’s antics and that would make him ashamed and stop.

But we were wrong. The women said it was a matter that required great caution as my cousin’s mother would never accept the stories. They were sure she would support her son-in-law and accuse us of trying to ruin her daughter ’s marriage. She could even say that we were the ones trying to lure her son-inlaw into a relationship. So we were advised to keep away from them at all cost. The silence sort of emboldened him the more but besides the occasional pinching and grappling in the dark, he never got a chance with anyone. It only made him look stupid.

However, you know that God works in mysterious ways, his wonders to perform.

And so it happened that the youngest girl of the family, who automatically is my younger cousin was asked to go and live with them to rewrite her school certificate examinations. Before long, we began to hear one story after another from those the poor girl was confiding in. How Brother Jaiye would walk into the bathroom unannounced while she was using it. How their two bedroom flat had only one bathroom and it had no locks and so was always partially open and which worked to his advantage.

How he was always hugging, holding or kissing her even in his wife’s presence.

And even though she complained, his wife insisted they were innocent gestures of affection. And so the poor girl endured until the crime was committed and the whole family discovered what was being covered. Everyone thought it was the best thing that could happen since all involved came from one family and their mother could not blame anyone for their problems.

In the aftermath, my older cousin relocated to London with their only child and the marriage ended technically. And though Brother Jaiye made several attempts to reconcile with the family, he was not successful. His wife never returned and that was the end. No one in our extended family ever talks about it anymore. Most of the younger generation would never know that we once had a paedophile in the family. Yet, he could have been stopped before he went over the bars.

Do have a wonderful weekend !!

28—SATURDAY Vanguard, MARCH 9, 2019

Pregnant women who take prenatal vitamins are half as likely to have children with autism, study claims •Researchers studied pregnant women who already had a child diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder •Mothers who took prenatal vitamins during the first month of pregnancy had an autism prevalence of about 14% •Women who didn’t take vitamins in the first month had a prevalence of 33%

T

aking prenatal vitamins during pregnancy could reduce a woman’s risk of having a child with autism, a new study finds.

Women who already have a child diagnosed with the developmental disorder have a higher risk of any future children having the same diagnosis.

But researchers found that mothers who took prenatal vitamins during their first month of pregnancy slashed their younger children’s risk of having autism by more than half.

The team, from the University o f California, Davis, says its findings are the first to show that genetic susceptibility for developing autism may be avoided by taking prenatal pills Approximately one in 68 children has an autism spectrum disorder (ASD), which includes autism as well as Asperger syndrome and other developmental disorders, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

It is more often diagnosed in

boys than in girls by about five times.

People with autism often have problems with social, emotional and communication skills. They might repeat certain behaviors and might not want change in their daily activities.

A September 2011 study

found that the recurrence risk of ASDs is believed to be between three and 10 percent.

For the new study, published in JAMA Psychiatry, the team recruited participants from the Markers of Autism Risk in Babies: Learning Early Signs (MARBLES) study.

MARBLES, run by UC Davis, looks at prenatal and postpartum biological and environmental factors that may lead to autism.

Researchers evaluated more than 240 mothers who already had a child with an ASD. Their younger children were born between 2006 and 2015 and were tested for autism before their third birthday.

About 96 percent of the women said they took prenatal vitamins throughout their pregnancies.

However, just 36 percent began during the recommended period - six months before conception.

The prevalence of autism among mothers who took prenatal vitamins during the first month of pregnancy was about 14 percent.

It more than doubled when it came to children whose mothers didn’t take vitamins in the first month at nearly 33 percent.

Although the team is not sure why prenatal vitamins were found to lower the risk, it believes nutrients found in the pills - such as folic acid and iron - may play a role.

Mother tells of her heartbreak after daughter died of cervical cancer Emma Fisk visited her GP several times after suffering stomach cramps Was also refused a smear test due to the fact she was under 25 at the time Eventually diagnosed with advanced neuroendocrine carcinoma of cervix This is a rare type of cancer that is different to the ‘usual’ cervical cancer It is unlikely to be detected by a smear test, unlike the more common type Mrs Fisk died in in June 2015, just two months after marrying husband Daniel

A

devastated mother has urged young women to demand smear tests - after her own daughter died from cervical cancer aged just 25 years old.

Emma Fisk begged for a screening after suffering a string of symptoms in 2013, but was refused because she was considered too young to be at risk.

It was only when she was later diagnosed with colitis - an inflammation to the inner lining of the colon - that she was finally referred for a smear test by her gastroenterologist.

Unfortunately, when she was eventually diagnosed stage 2b neuroendocrine carcinoma, it was too late.

Now, her mother, Adele Willis, 52, of Ackworth, West Yorkshire, has publicly lifted the lid on her grief to save others from a similar fate.

‘She rang me after leaving the hospital, as the doctor had told her it might be cancer. She was in tears, and kept saying, “Mum, I’m only 24",’ Mrs Willis toldThe Sun. Six months of chemotherapy and radiotherapy followed, which caused her to lose her hair.

But she successfully finished the course and, initially, the prognosis looked good.

However, doctors later noticed that the cancer had spread - and was terminal.

‘The news brought the whole family to their knees. We were devastated,’ Mrs Willis added.

‘She passed away as I held her hand.

Losing Emma has left a void and pain I cannot explain.’

Today, she wants others to be

checked-out. Mrs Willis said: ‘If you are under 25 and have symptoms, see a GP and demand one. Don’t take no for an answer.’

‘If girls were called up for smears earlier, from the ages of 18, then our beautiful Emma might still be here with us today,’ Mrs Willis told MailOnline in 2015.

‘She was fit and healthy and slim she didn’t smoke or take drugs or

drink. She was the model daughter.

She loved everyone and they loved her. She was such a beautiful person inside and out and we are so lost without her. ‘[Speaking about this] is a really painful thing to do, but we don’t want other people to suffer like Emma.’

The family have now all pulled together, to start the Team Emma Campaign and create a legacy for her.

It comes as Public Health England has launched its own nationwide initiative to encourage more women to undergo the intimate exams amid the worst screening levels in 20 years.

Almost a third of women aged 25 to 49 have missed their latest smear test and in some surgeries three quarters have not had it.

Experts say have attributed the fall to fear and embarrassment as well as a lack of convenient GP appointments.

Professor Anne Mackie, director of screening programmes at Public Health England said: ‘The decline in numbers getting screened for cervical cancer is a major concern as it means millions of women are missing out on a potentially lifesaving test.

‘Two women die every day in England from cervical cancer, yet it is one of the most preventable cancers if caught early.

She added: ‘We want to see a future generation free of cervical cancer but we will only achieve our vision if women take up their screening invitations.

‘This is a simple test which takes

just five minutes and could save your life. It’s just not worth ignoring.’

There are 3,000 new cases of cervical cancer in the UK each year and 1,000 deaths.

Risk factors include smoking, having multiple sexual partners and a prolonged use of the contraceptive pill.

Screening is offered every three years for women aged 25 to 49 then every five years until the age of 65.

Figures published by NHS Digital in November showed that just 71 per cent of women had attended their latest screening, the lowest rate since 1997.

Amongst the 25 to 49 age group the uptake was just 69 per cent and at some GP surgeries it is around 25 per cent.

Screening uptake rates spiked ten years ago following the death of reality TV star Jade Goody, on 22 March 2009.

The 27-year-old had missed numerous smear test appointments despite having a history of abnormal results.

But the national uptake has since plummeted again and rates are particularly low in London and other large cities.

WHAT IS HPV? THE INFECTION LINKED TO 99% OF CERVICAL CANCER CASES Human papilloma virus (HPV) is the name for a group of viruses that affect your skin and the moist membranes lining your body.

Spread through vaginal, anal and oral sex and skin-to-skin contact between genitals, it is extremely

‘We don’t know for sure what nutrients make the difference,’ lead author Dr Rebecca Schmidt, an assistant professor of public health sciences at the UC Davis MIND, told HealthDay. ‘We do know that folic acid is really important for neural tube closure and that it plays a role in oxidative stress and mitochondrial function - a lot of important things.’

The authors say that the study did not look at whether one type of vitamin was better than another for lowering autism risk.

Dr Schmidt told HealthDay that the vitamins are likely not solely responsible for lowering the risk, but ‘a prenatal vitamin might mitigate some of the risk that’s already there’.

She added: ‘Women who are planning to have more kids, or if it’s possible they might get pregnant, should talk to their doctor about getting a prescription for a prenatal vitamin.’

Culled from The Sun, London common.

Up to eight out of 10 people will be infected with the virus at some point in their lives.

There are more than 100 types of HPV. Around 30 of which can affect the genital area. Genital HPV infections are common and highly contagious.

Many people never show symptoms, as they can arise years after infection, and the majority of cases go away without treatment.

It can lead to genital warts, and is also known to cause cervical cancer by creating an abnormal tissue growth.

Annually, an average of 38,000 cases of HPV-related cancers are diagnosed in the US, 3,100 cases of cervical cancer in the UK and around 2,000 other cancers in men.

HPV can also cause cancers of the throat, neck, tongue, tonsils, vulva, vagina, penis or anus. It can take years for cancer to develop.

WHAT IS A SMEAR TEST? A smear test detects abnormal cells on the cervix, which is the entrance to the uterus from the vagina.

Removing these cells can prevent cervical cancer.

Most test results come back clear, however, one in 20 women show abnormal changes to the cells of their cervix.

In some cases, these need to be removed or can become cancerous.

Cervical cancer most commonly affects sexually-active women aged between 30 and 45.

In the UK, the NHS Cervical Screening Programme invites women aged 25-to-49 for a smear every three years, those aged 50 to 60 every five years, and women over 65 if they have not been screened since 50 or have previously had abnormal results.

Women must be registered with a GP to be invited for a test.

In the US, tests start when women turn 21 and are carried out every three years until they reach 65.

Changes in cervical cells are often caused by the human papilloma virus (HPV), which can be transmitted during sex.

In January 2018, women shared selfies with smeared lipstick on social media to raise awareness of the importance of getting tested for cervical cancer in a campaign started

by Jo’s Cervical Cancer Trust.

SATURDAY

Vanguard, MARCH 9, 2019—29

As we celebrate our women . . .

What incoming govs must do on community safety to e-learning platforms that take classrooms to women and girls; affordable and quality Aspiring women... childcare centres, and technology shaped by women, innovation can take the race for gender equality to the finish line by 2030.

“It begins with making sure that women’s and girls’ needs and experiences are integrated at the very inception of technology and innovations. It means building smart solutions that go beyond acknowledging the gender gaps to addressing the needs of men and women equally. And ultimately, it needs innovations that disrupt business as usual, paying attention to how and by whom technology is used and accessed, and ensuring that women and girls play a decisive role in emerging industries,” states the UN Women.

According to the World Poverty Clock, Nigeria currently has the greatest number of people living in extreme poverty in the world. The primary reason for this development is that financial resources are scarce and the nation is producing more people than it can cater for.

On this year ’s IWD, the major commitment by Nigerian authorities is to make sure that the nation’s Contraceptive Prevalence Rate (CPR) and acceptance of modern contraceptive methods is at least 27 percent by 2020.

For Nigerian women, the Network advocates for innovative programs and ways that seek to ensure no woman is left behind.

We are making a strong case that all incoming states governments must consciously t’s another season of celebrating women all over the world especially the teeming provide budget lines for Family Planning to population of Nigerian women. The occasion is the 2019 International Women Day celebration be compulsorily released timely, for the with the theme: “Balance for Better.” purpose of ensuring services are provided at Nigeria has an estimated population of 199,273,969 of which about 49.34 percent are women the Primary Healthcare level. according to the 2016 National Bureau of Statistics.

Currently, the nation’s CPR is just about 14.3 Also, by the 2019 Independent Electoral Commission, INEC, registration, of 84,004,084 percent.

It is certain that if Nigeria truly wants registered voters, 39,598,645 are women representing 47.14 percent. to change the narrative of poverty as a nation, From the foregoing, women woman or man, there must be we must be truly committed to empowering population is certainly germane to deliberate effort to bridge the women by giving them access to modern economic, political and healthy gender disparity gap in contraceptive methods and sexual reproductive well- being of the country. education, employment health services as well as end the global gag It follows therefore that to have opportunities and by giving rule. a “Balanced for Better ” world everyone equal chances to thrive.

There must as a matter of urgency and there is need for conscious effort “This must start with access to necessity, also be the inclusion of all women to accelerate gender parity. services that empower women to regardless of any form of disability, in the According to the IWD campaign plan their lives which is, access In recognition of the IWD provision and access to family planning theme, clearly, “Balance” is not a to family planning services,” said services whenever there is demand in all women’s issue rather, it’s a as the focal point in the Oji. primary healthcare centres in wards of various business issue. It is for this reason movement for women’s Further, Oji noted: “Family local governments all over the federation. the International bodies see the planning services is a right and rights, the Network sees In recognition of the IWD as the focal point race to be on for the genderthe only way we can make sure in the movement for women’s rights, the balanced boardroom, a genderthe day as opportunity women and girls and men too, Network sees the day as opportunity to reflect balanced government, genderto reflect on progress exercise this right, is to empower on progress made, call for change and balanced media coverage, a them to make those critical made, call for change celebrate achievements of women across the gender-balance of employees, decisions based on their choices world. more gender-balance in wealth and celebrate in an atmosphere free of We call on President Muhammadu Buhari to and gender-balanced sports achievements of women coercion.” ensure that women are given a fair share of coverage among other issues.

Also, for there to be a “Balance across the world ministerial appointments and other elective Indeed, gender balance is for Better” in the words of Chair, positions. We expect that the current imbalance essential for economies and FP2020, Beth Schlachter, “One of will be corrected through adherence to the 35 communities to thrive. the guiding principles of the unmarried couples, young people, percent affirmative action.

Therefore, for the Network of FP2020 partnership is that no and people with disabilities,” The Network is also particularly concerned Reproductive Health Journalists matter your gender, sexual Schlachter noted. about the appalling situation of women at the of Nigeria, NRHJN, the question orientation, age, ability, or marital However, for the UN Women which various Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) is “How do Nigerian women status, you have the right to has modified the Global Theme as: camps and seeks urgent intervention of the balance for better lives especially decide if, whether, or when to “Think Equal, Build Smart, Innovate President to scale up the welfare of women on at such a time wherein the have a child. for Change” puts innovation by the camps. nation’s economy is just coming “For advocates and women and girls, for women and We are asking the Federal Government to out of recession? implementers, that means in girls, at the heart of efforts to achieve expedite action on rehabilitation of the women From the submission of the addition to married couples and gender equality. in these IDP camps to their homes.

Chair of the Local Organising those living in close proximity to According to the UN Women: Committee, of the 5th Nigeria We call on government at all levels to, as a a range of high-quality health “Achieving a gender-equal world Family Planning Conference matter of priority, create an enabling care services, we must also focus requires social innovations that work 2018, Dr. Ejike Oji, “For there to environment that would enable Nigerian on the needs of the hardest to for both women and men and leaves be inclusiveness and innovation women opportunity to balance their work, reach: rural women and refugees, no one behind. in investment opportunities for family and social lives and contribute optimally gender and sexual minorities, From urban planning that focuses everyone regardless of being a to the economic growth of the nation.

I

30—SATURDAY Vanguard, MARCH 9, 2019 We even added the Treasure Restaurant Christmas party which has been rocking Dusseldorf in the past few years. The Treasure Restaurant Christmas party brings people together at the end of the year for an all night jam. In the past few years, the interest in the end of year event has been encouraging.

Now, tell me a little bit more about this loving husband of yours He is my destiny helper whom God used to make me accomplish much.

Now let me tell you more stories. After my graduation from secondary school, I went to acquire a diploma and did my IT at UTC Benin branch office.

That was when traveling out for greener pastures started hovering in my mind. I was soon on my way to Spain led by one man who claimed to know much about Europe. We were many under his guide but got stranded in Gambia when the man disappeared with the money we had paid him. He abandoned us to our fate. I was at the verge of returning to Benin but my parents told me to persevere and hang on. They promised to send money to me and indeed sent money for me to either continue to Spain or return to Benin. But not too long after, when I was almost demoralized and thinking of what to do the man who later became my husband came along to change my path for good. We have two sons, one 17 years and the other 15 years old. .

As A Child, She Washed Dishes In Her Mum’s Restaurant In Benin, Now

She Runs The Biggest African Restaurant In Germany…

By Fred Iwenjora

W

hile growing up in the back streets of Oredo, in the ancient city of Benin south south of Nigeria, Juliet Erhunmwunse Wohlgemuth had washed dishes and ran errands in her mother’s makeshift restaurant at Sapele Road park to support her family without an inkling that such services would ever become her main occupation later in life.

Now the mother of two sons has been holding her own, running Treasure African Restaurant, a renowned catering business founded in 2006, situated in a serene environment of the German City of Dusseldorf and reputed to be a must visit by resident Africans and those on transit.

However, It is also acclaimed to be the African restaurant with the most European audience because aside from Europeans who swarm about to taste Nigerian dishes like Egusi, banga and ogbono soup, it also offers continental dishes.

How did she initiate this venture that is visited by African entertainment and sports stars as well as diplomats and Nigerian leaders possible? How has she managed to excel so far? How does she feel when Europeans ask for Ogbono soup or highly peppered rice and stew? There are several questions to ask her and she was very open and concise in her answers.

efficient and excellent services. We are the only restaurant in Dusseldorf that offers party services and outside catering. Most festivals in the state invite us to provide catering services for guests including the provisions of African food. However I know that Treasure Restaurant has the highest German customers. Some of them ask for Ogbono and egusi soup as they see African customers relishing it. A lot of them will ask for the regular E u r o p e a n cuisine H o w challenging has it been in the past years?

The initial challenge was regularizing documents. It was tough. As soon as that was done, problems reduced.

The basic challenge now is procurement, m e e t i n g d e m a n d s , excellence service all in all. We serve both African and continental food so, we must deal with the customers of diverse views and cultures. For instance our African customers are dealt with differently because we are Africans while our European customers feel differently.

What inspired you to start this restaurant seen as one of the biggest African restaurants in Europe?

I always wanted to be self employed.

I had also done other businesses but the restaurant business knows me well and I know it too. May be that is the reason it continues to prosper since 2006. In all I think that God’s hand is upon my head. I may not However, It is also accept that it is the acclaimed to be the biggest African African restaurant restaurant in Europe because I with the most have not traveled European audience across Europe to rate the others but I because aside from know that in the Europeans who state of Nordrheinswarm about to taste Westfalen where Dusseldorf is Nigerian dishes like situated, Treasure Egusi, banga and African Restaurant may not be the ogbono soup, it also biggest in size but it offers continental is the most dishes equipped, most clean, with most

Did anything prepare you for what you now do? What memories do you recall of your childhood in Benin?

My mother popularly known as Mama Julie sold food at Sapele park, beside Ubviotor Primary school, Benin City. It was a makeshift restaurant. She did this for like more than fifteen years. As her first daughter, I was so glued to her aprons helping and supporting her in all. I saw her toil hard to raise us. That was why after God blessed me, I begged her to stop the tedious work routine. It was very difficult to stop her but she later yielded.

I learnt a lot from that early beginning which is helping me up till date in my business.

You must have an interesting love story Yes .It is my destiny which can be delayed but not denied. I tell anyone who cares to listen to me that love brought me to Germany.

I met him when I was almost at the verge of losing hope in Gambia.

He was the man of my dreams with all the qualities I wanted in my man. He also told me I was the woman of his dreams.

We lived together for about six months before his job contract ended and he took me along to Germany. Before this Her African restaurant in the time, we had already made promises to each city of Dusseldorf, German other. I was denied Visa at the German Embassy in Gambia. They said I should go to Nigeria for the Visa. So There is no much difference because he left for Germany only to return I still do dishes even though some of again for me.

Still no visa.

We boarded these thongs are automated here a ship to Spain and then a flight to unlike the manual crude systems we Germany where more immigration did in Benin city. But I must say that all I learnt from her was my basic problems started. Germany could not foundation. I learnt about cooking, wed us because I came without a legal buying materials, being patient as to visa. When the heat was on for my serve many customers at a go without deportation, I ran to France where we losing your temper. I also learnt to got married after four months of legal persevere and be self confident. One tussle. It was after eight months that may not understand how difficult it is the German Embassy in France to be serving over ten people all agreed to give me a family re union looking for your attention at same time visa and I went to meet him. It has been a blissful journey I must Could we talk about your early confess.

There is this Nigerianness about years in Europe…

Aah, I will recall a very tough entry you that defies explanation. There is into Europe but made easier by my a Nigerian flag in the restaurant and loving husband who stood his ground. your outside catering events would Let me say here that love took me to fly the green white and green Europe. On arrival, I first started colours… .how come you are so by doing menial cleaning jobs. I later patriotic about Nigeria?

I can’t tell why but I have my deep worked as a sales girl in an Afro love for Nigeria because it is the shop. It was when I got my legal place of my birth. Despite that I status that I started travelling to sought and traveled out for greener France and Switzerland to buy goods for sale from house to house and pastures, my deep love for the country of my birth is still intact and shop to shop.

It was in 2005 that I took over an may be even deeper than it used to Afro shop which was about to be be. I usually dress up in Nigerian sold. I invested and ran it for a while cultural attire just as our work before opening Treasure African uniform at Treasure is green/white/ Restaurant in 2006 and the rest in green top upon white. I belong to history. I later closed the Afro shop many Nigerian cultural associations when the stress became much but the and the Nigeria Community in restaurant is still functioning till date. Germany even though I am married to a German.

Juliet Erhunmwunse Wohlgemuth

SATURDAY Vanguard Vanguard,, MARCH 9, 2019—31

T

oday is my birthday, and yes, I am happy to celebrate another birthday, especially one that INEC made more popular by fixing elections for today. At this time last year, birthday messages, prayers and well wishes were pouring in. Some well-wishers sent messages encouraging me to try and put a book together. A friend, Mrs. Ronke Aina-Scott, went a step further. For 30 minutes, she practically was “coercing” me into writing a book. I had actually started work on one earlier, but my elder brother, Fr. Tony, who went through it, told me it was not intellectually rigorous enough. I got stuck and took a break. But two hours after Ronke’s “coercion,” the title MUDIPAPA flew into my head and I started writing. That day, I wrote about 3,000 words. Life Lessons from MUDIPAPA is almost ready and on this special day of the anniversary of my birth, I serve you the excerpts: Chief Julius Ferdinand Mudiaga Orien, Ph.D, sat in his expansive living room, playing with his granddaughter, Temi.

Tejiri, Temi’s mother and Chief Orien’s first daughter, started dropping off Temi with grandpa and grandma in Lekki from when she was a toddler. As she developed and learnt how to talk, she asked Chief Orien one day, “What is your name?” “My name is Mudiaga,” Chief answered. “No, he is Papa, Grandpa,” Tejiri, who was nearby, interjected defiantly. “You say your name is Mudiii… (She could not pronounce Mudiaga), but mummy says you are papa.

It means your name is Mudi-Papa,” Temi said with finality. Everybody roared into laughter, but it became Chief’s nickname and stuck.

THE BEGINNING Mudipapa, as Chief Mudiaga Orien later came to be known among friends and family, made up his mind to marry early.

That was about 45 years ago when he was almost 20 years old. Initially, his childhood dream had been to become a Catholic priest. From age five, he had fallen in love with the white cassock, having been raised in a Catholic family and visited by European and indigenous priests alike. However, when he was nine, he began to be intrigued by how the males among the domestic animals that his parents kept, fought themselves even to

More relationships followed after Laide’s, but ended quickly like many before them. Mudipapa tried all kinds of experiments: he dated much younger girls, his contemporaries, virgins, “experienced” girls, very religiouslooking girls, party girls, quiet girls and “loudspeakers,” all to no avail. At this time, Mudipapa was in real panic, his mind was in turmoil. His thoughts went to his “sweet sixteen” during the National Youth Service days. She was under-aged then and nothing really happened. Though he loved her, he never really wanted any relationship because of her age and the stern warning from the school principal brothels for ‘short time’ and resident to him not to mess around with her girls. prostitutes. Mudipapa was seeing off his But Rita was persistent and determined. girlfriend, Laide to Ojuelegba Bus Stop to They exchanged letters after youth get a bus home after a visit. It was his service, but lost contact after a while.

He wondered where Rita would be now custom to tease all his and what was happening visitors while walking to her. He had an past Ayilara at night: overwhelming urge to “your sisters are out again travel to Calabar to look on their daily hustle.” for her, but how does he “They are not my start looking for Rita sisters,” Laide without an address in a thundered. As Mudipapa city like Calabar? She had made to explain to her since left the secondary that he was only teasing Henceforth, his school where they had her, he heard a deafening met. Then, Mudipapa interest shifted and authoritative was teaching junior “enough!” on to how he classes while Rita was in The ‘Urhobo’ man in class five. He got Rita out was going to him took over. “This of the equation because ‘small girl’ is telling me to have a happy it was just wishful shut up, wetin remain thinking. He needed marriage, like his again?” He said to concrete and immediate himself. There and then, parents, and solutions. He wondered the relationship died. why God was not become a good Everything that answering his prayers, happened thereafter was father and or were his sins too mechanical. With the many?... husband, like his benefit of hindsight, Life Lessons from Mudipapa came to realize Mudipapa will be out that he may have been in May this year. The too hard on Laide. She had seven sisters and no brother. That could have been book is about life, courtship, planning and the reason she was so touchy and blind marriage, to Mudipapa’s joke. But the relationship commencing investment early in life. It is about family, parenting, was over and he had to move on.

MORAL: Men have gargantuan dealing with life’s storms, planning and inexplicable egos. Wives and for retirement and a purposepost-retirement life. girlfriends should not mess driven around with their husbands’/ Mudipapa will make you laugh; it is also sobering. boyfriends’ ego.

“Lif e lessons fr om MUDIP AP A” “Life from MUDIPAP APA death over the females for what he later understood to be mating rights. In his young mind, he felt that whatever the males were fighting to death for must be good and he looked forward to experiencing it when he grew up. But when he realized that becoming a Catholic priest meant taking a vow to forego what he was looking forward to experiencing, his interest in the priesthood evaporated.

Even as a young boy, Mudipapa kept promises. But his young mind warned him that the vow of celibacy was one “promise” he would not be able to keep.

Henceforth, his interest shifted on to how he was going to have a happy marriage, like his parents, and become a good father and husband, like his father.

A few years after he graduated from the university and had secured a stable job, he started working towards his marriage.

As a good Christian of the Catholic faith, he started booking Masses for a “good life partner,” but clothed it as “special intentions.” But unknown to everybody, Mudipapa was going through a nightmare.

His dream of a happy marriage was falling apart. Mudipapa could not sustain a relationship. He easily got bored. Some of his relationships lasted well under two months. Only one relationship made it to its first anniversary, but it had been clinically dead since one fateful night about eight months into the relationship.

Mudipapa was then living along Lawanson Road, Surulere, Lagos. Near his residence was a street called Ayilara, where prostitutes converged every night to ply their trade. There were also a few

Get massaged,toned up for the day... the arms. With the contacting of the abdomen,the organs there are massaged and toned.

The Backward Bend Technique: Get on the knees with the feet close together. Breathe in deeply, raising both hands overhead.

Breathing our, bend backwards with elbows still straightened out. Hold the position for some 5 seconds, and then inhailing, return the trunk to the upright position. Rest a bit and repeat.

The

Crane

Technique: Squat on the hundles with the feet close together. Let the soles and heels rest on the floor.

Raise the buttocksup and move the trunk forward.

Breathing out, wrap the arms around the bent legs and place the palms on the floor.

Bend the elbows and raise the heels from the floor, move the trunk a bit more forward and rest the chin on the back of the upper arms close to the armpits. Stretch the arms straight and balance the whole body on the hands.

Benefits:The C M Y K

Crane

strengthens

Benefits: The posture strengthens the back and shoulder muscles. also affected favourably are the muscles of the abdomen and those of the upper thighs.

The

Backward

Bend

The

Plough

The Plough Technique: Lie on your back with the legs stretched out and hands placed along the sides.

Take in a deep breath and drawing up the knees swing back the legs while breathing out and let the toes come to rest on the floor behind your head.

Keep the knees straight and stiffen up the muscles of legs. Keep the breathing normal as you retain the posture for about 10 seconds. To come out of the posture simply bend the knees and just roll down the back and straight out the legs flat on the floor again.

You may rest a little and repeat.

Benefits: The plough improves the elasticity of the spine. It tones the leg muscles and helps to rid constipation

32—SATURDAY Vanguard, MARCH 9, 2019 This idea of democracy is not only ‘unAfrican,’ it is most undemocratic.

We shed so much blood conducting elections, waste huge resources and at the end of it all, nothing is achieved.

Did our ancestors not choose kings and leaders without setting up FEDECO, NECON or INEC? They could have lived in the past but am afraid, our forebears were more organized than we are today.

It does appear Nigeria could be Chief Obafemi Awolowo was in jail better off without elections. Our environment would smell sweeter at the time and he was one of the without this skewed system that reasons five young Army majors throws up more criminals than staged the first military coup on January 15, 1966. credible people.

The first Republic elections led to When Sir Hugh Clifford came up with the Nigerian Legislative Council in the death of that order. Coup came, 1922, it was not made up of village followed by counter coup and then idiots and fraudsters. Half baked Civil war.

In 1979, nine years after the war, citizens knew their place was not there was another election. In 1983, there.

The 30 officials and three elected we went to the poll again. That was members were some of the best in the what brought Maj. Gen. Muhammadu polity. The council legislated for Buhari to power.

We had not learnt any lessons. The Lagos colony and the Southern provinces and the elected members West was still burning, especially the represented Lagos and Calabar old Ondo State. Eggs fuelled inferno.

Trust Africans. We are good scientists municipalities.

It was in 1922 that the Nigeria without patents. We can fly without National Democratic Party [NNDP], wings.

This is 2019, Buhari is President of our first political party was formed.

Worthy gentlemen like Herbert Nigeria. Before he came in 1983, 36 Macaulay, Adeniyi Jones, Egerton years ago, the electorate heard of Shyngle and Karimu Kotun were ‘landslide and ‘moonslide’ victory. among the founders. And the party Today, it is cash and carry, ‘chop and won elections into the Legislative go.’

Everyone thought after Buhari, our Council in 1923.

In 1959, a year to Independence, politicians would learn their lessons. there were the December 12, Federal Yes indeed. They wooed Buhari, he elections. No death was recorded and became one of them. And some of the 7, 185, 555 voters were neither those he crucified in 1983 are in his harassed nor bought over with cash. camp.

I am convinced this country does Trouble started in 1964 and continued in 1965. The Western not need to elect leaders. It has not Region was on fire. Some called it worked. Politicians now carry more ‘wild, wild West.’ It was a period of weapons than the Armed forces. And letter W. Humans were roasted in some of our soldiers serve as errand what was known as ‘wetie’ [ wet him boys to them.

This thing called rigging is as old as with fuel]. Wole Soyinka wowed some Nigeria. Politicians know it. I am in a with an act of exceptional bravado. position to shout it out because I was

We don’t need elections anymore

…And so, Nigerians trooped out Saturday, February 23rd, to cast their votes believing that whoever the majority voted for would emerge president because they had expected a free and fair election. And again, they were not only disappointed; they were totally betrayed. No, they were actually robbed for that was no election; “it was robbery with violence, aggravated murder on a large scale,” to borrow Joseph Conrad’s authorial comment in his 1899 novel (on colonialism in Africa), The Heart of Darkness. Election rigging is akin to colonialism or even slavery because colonized people lack the vote. And so, they are not really different from slaves, for as Jimmy Cliff sang in Poor Slave (from his 1973:“Fundamental Reggae” music album), “The definition of a slave/Means ones that aren’t free entirely.” Minus free and fair election and democracy is just a mirage!

So, was the election free and fair? Those who have been engaged in victorious chants of primitive triumphalism since Buhari was awarded victory have refused to face that very salient and crude fact; that their socalled victory have been tainted by rigging— which includes, the lack of adequate legal framework, unequal campaign environment, inadequate electoral administrative capacity, election violence and vote suppression, polling day fraud and rigged vote coalition.

Does the quality of an election matter?

Elklit Jørgen, and Reynolds Andrew (2005) say yes in their essay: “A Framework for the Systematic Study of Election Quality.

Schedler and Andrea (2002) concur in “Elections without Democracy: The Menu of Manipulation” as published in the Journal of Democracy.

If so, why have many Nigerian opinion leaders been playing the ostrich despite the glaring irregularities (if we want to stick with our usual euphemism) or call it what it is: ELECTORAL CRIME? Or is it not a crime to snatch ballot boxes, or to obstruct any Nigerian from casting his or her vote without coercion? Is it not a heinous crime to subvert the will of a people as expressed through lawful elections? A large body of scholarship argues that impartial bureaucratic procedures are more consequential for developing countries and democracies than electoral outcomes in terms of winning and losing. So, which peace are those asking Atiku not to take his matter to the court really protecting?

Buhari’s success in a free-and-fair election would mean a collective yes vote on his policies and decisions, style of governance, his Security Council members being from a particular part of the country, manner of

I am looking at a Consultative Assembly of 300 members; to make up this number, professionals, labour and women should be given an opportunity

involved. Many of us will go to hell if we do not confess.

I was not 18 when I voted in 1979. I did not even register. No one asked me any questions. I was encouraged to vote and I swear, there was no monetary inducement. And it had nothing to do with my father. He did not even know I voted for his party, the Nigeria Peoples’ Party [NPP].

I did so much for Chief Obafemi Awolowo’s Unity Party of Nigeria in 1983. I worked as an ad hoc staff of the Federal electoral Commission [FEDECO]. Though dad was an NPP chieftain, I voted for the UPN severally in the polling unit right inside our compound.

I worked for the UPN for free, used my father’s vehicle to supply UPN agents with food and also voted severally in other polling units in my ward. The young ones among us knew. So I know rigging existed before APC and PDP. Now the disease has become cancerous. Something has to be done. My suggestion may not go down well with some compatriots.

We have chosen not to go back to history.

I will bring history back here.

There is something to pick from Biafra because it worked. Let us put propaganda aside. Governor Emeka Ojukwu did not just wake up to declare Biafra.

Ojukwu derived his powers from a Consultative Assembly of the Eastern Region, made up of 336

Presidential Election? No; It Was R obber Robber obberyy With Violence! speech, his talking down on the citizenry, etc. unethical) reason; that elections are But if we are truly in a democracy, the vote tainted everywhere. No, developed of the majority must be allowed to stand – societies are always seeking ways to whether or not they voted for a degenerated improve on their elections. During the candidate or if the block vote of the North is 2004 US election, five Democratic Party all it takes to decide an election. And if the operatives in East St. Louis were others want a change, they would have to convicted in federal court for offering ask for restructuring, (as some South-South cigarettes, beer, medicine and $5 to $10 reward to increase Governors led by Delta turnout of the poor.

State’s then Gov. James One operative pleaded Onanefe Ibori did) guilty and stated that constitutional if they didn’t provide amendments (as Prof Ben rewards; “they” (the Nwabueze has been poor) wouldn’t come doing) or a gentleman’s out. A local election in agreement to rotate Oakland is another power between sections of example. Campaign the country (which the Buhari’s success in workers handed out late Vice President Alex thousands of coupons Ekwueme made the PDP a free and fair for free chicken to embrace). But what if election would dinners in an explicit that election was not free and targeted effort to and fair? It would mean mean a collective draw voters to the that some tainted pundits yes vote on his polls. So the US keeps have been forcing faulty making its election concepts down our policies and better.

But did throats; population Buhari, try to make indices, voter turn-out decisions, style of the Nigerian electoral and such garbage when governance, his system better? If not, rigging and rigging was why not? all that mattered. security council Since 1999 our That brings us to the members being political bearing has call on the PDP candidate, been faulty.

Atiku Abubakar, to from a particular Immediately after accept the defeat, shun Obasanjo and his the courts, for the sake of part of the country ministers held their peace. No, no, no. He last meeting of must let the law check the validity of the result INEC announced. Obasanjo’s first tenure, Gen. T.Y Some people are adducing a totally immoral Danjuma said to state house (as in debauched and depraved) and amoral correspondents (including this reporter) (as in unscrupulous, unprincipled and “we failed. We failed to grow jobs, we

members. Of this number, 161 were Igbo.

The others, 165, were from the Calabar, Ogoja, Rivers [COR] axis.

Membership was drawn from the civil service, town unions, very important personalities, women groups and even markets. To a large degree, everyone had a voice through any of these representatives.

Why cannot Nigeria try something similar. The idea of wasting time and money on election will fade away and all those who kill and maim to win votes will go to bed. The trouble of inconclusive results and 12 2/3 politics will not arise.

We could go back to the 93 divisions that existed before Gen. Yakubu Gowon created 12 states in 1967. The South had 55 Provinces while the North boasted of 38.

Let us take two representatives from each of the 93 Provinces, pick six traditional rulers from each of the present six Geo-political zones, making 36 natural rulers and invite 20 from diaspora. This will give 262 members.

I am looking at a Consultative Assembly of 300 members. To make up this number, professionals, labour and women should be given an opportunity.

This sounds more African.

From within, members should choose a leader who becomes president. Let there be a vice president and five deputy presidents picked from the six geopolitical zones.

This will wipe out the Senate and House of Representatives. It is going to be easier to know who works for us. Politics will become less attractive. Service takes precedence. That will save us a lot of money and pain. failed to grow the economy.”Yet, Obasanjo had been re-elected months earlier —by a wide margin.

In 2018, during Buhari’s watch, Senator Ibrahim Mantu confessed (see Vanguard newspaper of March 31, 2018) that he used to rig elections: “We make provision for INEC, we make provision for security, we make provision for even agents of other political parties so that they will not raise any objection to whatever we are able to get. So whether I rig the election or not, by providing those resources… .

Financial inducement to the officials, I have rigged the election.” Actually, Buhari knew about election-rigging and acted against it in 1984. In his first speech as Military Head of State; he said: “The premium on political power became so exceedingly high that political contestants regarded victory at elections as a matter of life and death struggle and were determined to capture or retain power by all means.” That was a reason Shehu Shagari’s administration was overthrown.

Neither the uproar Mantu’s confession caused nor the reason Shehu Shagari’s administration was overthrown scandalized Buhari enough to say “never again.” But Atiku is not Buhari.

So, he should litigate this matter mightily, because the future of Nigeria’s democracy is now endangered. Experts have posited that “in national elections, successful electoral fraud can have the effect of a coup d’état or corruption of democracy. Even if the outcome is not affected, the revelation of fraud can have a damaging effect, if not punished, as it can reduce voters’ confidence in democracy.” It is an affront against the people. That was why even Buhari himself condemned the “landslide” rigging that the National Party of Nigeria (NPN) committed against Nigeria in 1983. And that is why Atiku, on Nigeria’s behalf, must resolutely confront the evil of election rigging in court... .NOW! Moreover, the rigging’s salacious details might catch the world’s attention and shame Nigeria into saying, NEVER AGAIN. Atiku should go to court for the sake of all those who voted in vain. He should sue for the sake of the innocent blood that was shed. Yes, he should shame some people for the evils they caused while mouthing God’s name and integrity in vain. Remember that Mantu said: “Why I am saying this is because I am tired of being seen as a criminal in the street of the world because I am a Nigerian.” So, Atiku cannot lose because mere telling of this sordid story is victory enough because it would puncture the overbloated egos of some who revel in audacity of hypocrisy while damaging Nigeria. And, he will win if his case is right and just, unless all those asking him to shun the courts have already “convicted” Nigeria’s judiciary as incapable of adjudicating in ordinary legal disputes.

SATURDAY Vanguard Vanguard,, MARCH 9, 2019—33

just recently finished a most I gripping book. Gripping in style; gripping in freshness; gripping in

vividness and gripping in message.

Line after uncomfortable line, the book forcefully reminded me of the likely consequence of the dangerous ethnic game we are playing in Nigeria.

‘Left To Tell,’ is a personal account of the Rwandan Holocaust by a young lady who lost every member of her family to the brutality of that insane period. Apart from a simplicity of style which still managed to capture both imagination and emotion, what makes the book compelling is that the writer could easily have been any young, sheltered, middle class person in any African country. Nothing in her up-bringing prepared her for the bestiality and the venom she encountered from erstwhile friends and neighbours during the Holocaust.

This writer, ImmaculeeIlibagiza didn’t even know what ethnic group she belonged to until she was aged ten and an ethnic roll was called in her new school because her father, a respected man in the community, had tried to shield his children from ethnic bigotry. He had also accommodated and helped many people from different tribes.

Unknown to her then, that tribal roll call could in future determine what school if any, she could attend as she would have to out-perform children from the ruling ethnic group in class to be eligible for certain schools.

(Sounds familiar). More importantly as it turned out, it could also determine if she was destined to live or die.

There are three main tribes in the tiny country; Hutu, Tutsi and Twa. Hutus are about 85% of the population and at the time of the genocide, were in government. But it was not always so. Tutsis, although a minority, ruled Rwanda through a monarchical system before the advent of Germans and later Belgians.

They were also originally favoured by the Belgian colonial masters until the revolt of the 60s by the Hutus which eventually led to independence. That revolt and subsequent discriminatory treatment of Tutsis by Hutus caused utting aside the logistics and P other failures of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC,

there is perhaps no campaign or election in recent history that may have provided as much theatrics as the present round.

The intrigues are particularly outstanding in Ogun, Imo, Rivers, Cross River States. Remarkably, the issues in these states centre around the ruling party, the All Progressives Congress, APC. The theatrics have led to the situation that as at today, there are multiple claims to the governorship ticket of the party in Cross River and Enugu States.

In seeming disregard for the dignity of the offices they represent, a serving minister, Pastor Usain Usain, and a senior lawmaker, Senator John Enoh were as at yesterday still dragging over who was the governorship candidate of the APC in Cross River State.

It is even worse in Rivers State where the war of attrition between party members led to the situation that the APC is today not presenting a candidate for the governorship or any other position in the state.

The situation in Ogun and Imo is particularly testing.It's same with Abia.

Today as party operatives and canvassers embark upon operations to mobilize the votes, the governors of Imo and Ogun States, Owelle Rochas Okorocha and Governor Ibikunle Amosun would be working at cross purposes with the mainstream of their party.

After his son through marriage that is Uche Nwosu was turned down as his successor, Governor Okorocha was quick to find an alternative platform in the shape of the Action Alliance to carry on the mission of family succession.

C M Y K

On the road to Rwanda many Tutsis to flee into exile. Those that remained had glass ceilings placed over their heads, making it difficult for them to get to positions of power and influence again.

Meanwhile, Twa, the original inhabitants of the region, had been completely side lined and made ineffectual in the scheme of things.

In spite of these tensions however, ordinary folks lived peaceably with each other. They inter-married.

They helped each other out

Our people need to deemphasize clannishness financially and emotionally. They were in many respects, indistinguishable from each other.

(Sounds familiar again).

This was largely the state of affairs in Rwanda until the Easter of 1994, when the President’s plane was brought down. The Hutu extremists took over, and called for an extermination of their Tutsi brethren. The word cockroach was frequently used on state radio and other media to describe the Tutsis.

Every ‘patriotic’ Hutu was urged to

go into the streets and houses to fish out the cockroaches and crush them by the head. The word cockroach was symbolic. A cockroach is a dirty pest. And a stubborn one. It doesn’t die easily and can survive many blows and situations. Only a decisive blow to the head can ensure its demise. That was what the Hutu leadership wanted and got. The most brutal, the most bestial, the most dehumanising, the most humiliating murders were committed on the streets of Rwanda during those three months of bloodletting and ethnic cleansing. What was even more confounding was that it was not always easy to differentiate between the tribes by merely looking at them given years of intermarriage. Twa was supposed to be the pygmy, the shortest of the three tribes. Hutu was taller and stockier than Twawith fatter noses. A Tutsi was supposed to be slim, tall and maybe more graceful with pointed noses. So outside the National ID which they were all compelled to carry, and face recognition by erstwhile friends turned enemies, a lot of Hutus could have been killed compulsively just by being slim and tall and some Tutsis spared just by being short and stocky. It shows how hatred can make a people blind when your looks determine your fate. It was shameful, sad and inexplicable that long time neighbours and friends turned against each other for no other reason except that some leaders in Kigali said so. Worse, first cousins on the ‘wrong’ side of mixed marriages, meaning those with Tutsi

fathers and Hutu mothers, were betrayed and killed.

That was the story ImmaculeeIlibagiza had to tell. A story of how, at the beginning of the crisis, a childhood Hutu friend she tried to hug hissed and pushed her away; how a neighbour shouted her name where she was hiding saying he wanted to make up the number 400 of people he had killed with her head; how she watched helplessly as her kid brothers were pushed into the night to an inevitable death; how her senior brother’s skull was cracked open because the killers wanted to see the brain of a Masters’ degree holder; or women being tortured and raped in the open by known adversaries; how she and seven women stayed in a tiny toilet for 91 days. It was also a story of how some Hutu families shielded some Tutsis at the risk of being branded traitors and killed.

Or how some Hutus hid their Tutsi friends while going out in the day to kill other Tutsis. It was also the story of how she found God and the strength to forgive when she eventually met the man who killed her parent and burnt their house.

This story of how age long friends and even benefactors can turn so violently against each other is not exactly new to us. We have been down that road before.

I was young then but I heard about people being pulled down from buses or trains and slaughtered because of their look or accent. People who have experienced this tribal hatred and barely escaped with their lives are still alive today. Yet, we seem not to have learnt any lesson. We are on that road again. Tribal intolerance with blames and counter blames is welling up among the major tribes. Unfortunately, it seems to be the tribe that was at the centre of it all some 50 odd years ago that is again at the centre. Granted, there is a lot wrong with Nigeria. But other tribes try to fight the system and not each other. At least not overtly. But this tribe seems to be at odds with every other major tribe. It is puzzling to make a life and a living in a place and still harbour an ill-disguised contempt or hatred towards the host tribe. Something must be wrong somewhere.

Our people need to deemphasize clannishness. It is a dangerous weapon to use.

Today as party operatives and canvassers embark upon operations to mobilize the votes, the governors of Imo and Ogun States, Owelle Rochas Okorocha and Governor Ibikunle Amosun would be working at cross purposes with the mainstream of their party

Why we should pray for APC Governor Amosun in the same way after he was denied the opportunity of pushing Adekunle Akinlade as his successor used the Allied Peoples Movement, APM to continue what he had started in the APC. It is interesting that the two governors were able to find parties with acronyms beginning with A, meaning that the parties would be at the head of the ballot if not close to the APC on the ballot paper.

The determination of the two governors to forge along with their personal choices of successor is reflective of a lack of internal party discipline. But there are others of different opinion who do not blame the two governors but the party leadership which is alleged to have compromised in not setting universally acceptable standards.

That failure it is claimed, compromised its ability to call the governors to question.

Indeed, never before in the history of the Fourth Republic did we see a situation where governors openly rebelled against their party as Amosun, Okorocha, Governor Abdulaziz Yari among others have done.

Foul language has been thrown between the governors and the

national chairman, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole to the point of exhaustion.

Few were indeed surprised when after the presidential and National Assembly elections two weeks ago that the National Working Committee, NWC of the party suspended the two governors from the party. It was the second time that governors in a ruling party would be suspended in the annals of the Fourth Republic.

The first governor to be suspended since 1999 from his party was Mr. Rotimi Amaechi whose suspension from the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP in May 2013 fast-tracked the processes that eventually led to the implosion of the party and its defeat in the 2015 General Election.

The seeming anarchy in the APC has, however, not been helped by the apparent disinterest by the president and leader of the party in squelching the disorder.

That disinterest was not helped by the assertions of President Muhammadu Buhari who during his campaign to the two states told party supporters to vote for him in the presidential election and vote according to their conscience in the governorship.

The president’s assertion some claimed, flowed from the moral obligation of the president to the two men.

Okorocha is chairman of the Progressive Governors Forum, the conference of APC governors who ordinarily should be a poster boy for the party. So, he shouldn’t be humiliated.

Governor Amosun, on the other hand, is generally known as one, if not, the closest among the governors to the president.

But somehow, the two governors today are suspended from the party and are actively supporting governorship candidates outside the mainstream of their party.

The dissonance arising from this is unprecedented and reflects a deficiency in the moral fibre of the operators of the system. It calls into question the ability and capacity of the political managers.

It is surprising that no one as at today has raised the issue of why the APC was not able to present candidates in Rivers State.

Those of us outside of the APC need to raise the question for the simple reason that the party which has taken upon itself the burden of forming our government should be able to keep its internal processes in check and in good order.

34—SATURDAY Vanguard, MARCH 9, 2019

gbo is a migrant tribe. Lagos is a melting I pot. Igbos will always abound in Lagos, any Lagos. They can’t be stopped. And can’t stop themselves. They have taken their industriousness everywhere. They have become the mostly widely dispersed and widely entrenched race in Nigeria and perhaps Africa. Lagos is where things happen. Igbos are made for Lagos.

The Igbo made Lagos their other home before ethnicity came into Nigerian politics. But since then, and despite the civil war , Igbos have remained a major part of the Lagos project. They have improved Lagos. Lagos has empowered and polished them . You only need to visit Amuwo-Odofin . Lagos has given them opportunity. They have made Lagos thick, and tick. You only need to visit the Trade fair complex and the Alaba market.

Yorubas are remarkably gregarious and tolerant. They have let Lagos open its arms to newcomers. Ethnic and religious tensions that have charred many Nigerian cities are almost non existent in Lagos.

Igbos , who are often victims of such strife have never seen violence targeted against them in Lagos since the civil war ended.

Lagos, and unlike Port Harcourt , restored abandoned properties to their owners after the war. Lagos doesn’t bear grudges.

Some Igbos have suffered some discrimination in the hands of a few landlords while seeking apartments to lease . But Lagos has not made discrimination against settlers preoccupation. Lagos is neither Jos nor Kaduna. The only lines that exist are perhaps class-lines which have perhaps been blurred by the fact that the whole city, despite the pretensions of those who live in Ikoyi and Victoria Island, has essentially become one huge slum.

Lagos favours competition. And yes , there have been clashes over market ownership and such like. And there were the days of the OPC and Hausa skirmishes.

But generally, Lagos has been boisterous but peaceful. For a city of over 20 million people of diverse cultures, Lagos has been comparatively serene.

It has to be. It’s only in Yoruba land that a Muslim man would marry a Christian woman and the two religions would share the children of their marriage, and happiness governs the home. Lagos imbibed that spirit.

Lagos politics has rarely been contaminated by ethnicity or religion. The electorate sometimes doesn’t remember the religion of its governor. Indigenes of other neighbouring states have ruled Lagos and continue to play important roles in Lagos governance. An Igbo man

The Igbo made Lagos their other home before ethnicity came into Nigerian politics

Lagos politics and the ubiquitous Igbo was the commissioner for budget in Lagos for almost a decade. You can call it pragmatic politics. But I am yet to see such pragmatism in Abia that once sacked all civil servants from neighboring Imo. But Lagos, like all other organisms, is destined to experience growth changes. And sometimes adaptations come with discomfort. Lagos is growing and developing its wrinkles.

Fast developing urban centres pass through stages of social puberty.

Voice may crack, facial hairs may sprout, some homogeneity and some innocence could be lost.

Yorubas have been accommodating. That which reared its head in the confusion that engulfed some places in Lagos during the recent presidential elections should not be misunderstood. It was inevitable.

The Igbos have woken late. They have the number and resources to affect Lagos politics fundamentally.

And they can’t be dictated to.

Democracy grooms persons and

Yorubas are remarkably gregarious and tolerant groups to articulate , protect and promote group interests. It’s in fact, a civic responsibility. Igbos don’t have to explain or justify their electoral choices. The society benefits when its members participate fully, with all their resources, in its politics.

But Igbos must understand that the Yoruba, like any other African tribe, would resist anything that has the appearance of foreign domination.

That is natural.

Enugu is Igbo land. Lagos is Yoruba land. But those who reside in Lagos are Lagosians. The constitution grants rights and privileges. Those who reside in Lagos and Enugu can vote in those places regardless of their states of origin.

But in a third world country, no ethnic group will let another come to its territory and dominate its politics without a grumble. Igbos would grumble if Fulanis acquired the numbers and sought to determine who governed Imo. Nigeria is a country. But not the country some of our forefathers dreamt yet. Nigeria is still an assemblage of ethnic nationalities. So when members of an ethnic group reside in places distant from their homelands they will not be expected to puff political smoke into the faces of their hosts, their citizenship rights notwithstanding.

It may be time for a revolution in Lagos. But Igbos must proceed discreetly. No wise man attracts to himself envy and hostility. The negative reaction of the average Yoruba to the march championed by Igbos should be expected. If it happened in Igbo land, Igbos would react more vehemently.

We all remember how people reacted to the suggestion of cattle clones for herdsmen. That is the level of our national cohesion and integration for now. No Igbo man would sit astride and brook the argument that Enugu is not Igbo land.

But there is another truth. Emotions aside , Lagos politics has changed fundamentally. There has been a significant demographic shift. When a group achieves the sort of population Igbos have in Lagos that group must be courted by the politicians, not hampered. In the United States the impact of blacks and Latinos on the electoral college system has become

hen Crown Prince Mohammed W bin Salman, also known as MBS presented the Saudi vision 2030, on

April 15, 2016, few gave the 33-yearold the benefit of the doubt. The Saudi vision statement of not depending solely on oil for future energy needs recognized the fact that real wealth lies in the ambition of its people and the potential of the younger generation.

To him, all success stories start with a vision. Was the crown prince certain he would be able to fulfill his dream for a nation that had for long been the largest exporter of global crude? His wish was to pep up the revolution on the need to increase refining capacity as oil transition bells tolled. For a country that supplies one out of every eight barrels of global crude produced daily it was time for introspection.

Crude oil contributes about 40 percent of Saudi’s real Gross Domestic Product, GDP. The priority was to develop more alternative sources of revenue such as taxes, fees and income from the sovereign wealth fund for government.

MBS 15-year reform may bring verve in monarchical governance, to reduce the dependence on crude oil which prices remained relatively unstable since the 1970s.

Recognising that youngsters are a nation’s pride meant bringing youthful dynamism to catalyse the vision.

Crown Prince Salman, believed that his reforms were ambitious, but achievable to reflect Saudi’s strengths and capabilities. Most of the major projects to be executed by the year 2030 numbering about 80 are to be financed by the . The Public Investment Fund will not compete with the private sector, but instead help unlock strategic sectors requiring intensive capital inputs. This will contribute towards developing entirely new economic sectors and establishing durable national corporations. The

Saudi vision 2030 and rev up in oil refining package is to reinforce and diversify the capabilities of the economy, turning key strengths into enabling tools for a fully diversified future. It will transform Aramco from an oil producing company into a global industrial conglomerate. It will transform the Public Investment Fund into the world’s largest sovereign wealth fund. It will

For a country that supplies one out of every eight barrels of global crude produced daily it was time for introspection encourage major corporations to expand across borders and take their rightful place in global markets. It will expand the variety of digital services to reduce delays and cut tedious bureaucracy.

According to MBS the Vision will immediately adopt wide-ranging transparency and accountability

reforms and, through the body set up to measure the performance of government agencies, hold them accountable for any shortcomings. The reform promised to be transparent and open about failures as well as successes, and to welcome ideas on how to improve.

The country had envisioned rapid population growth in the globe that would hit 9 billion by 2040 and estimated that twothirds of global energy demand will come from India and Southeast Asia, where demographic growth must be matched by the rise in basic living standards of increased urbanization that would require investment in downstream petroleum. Till date about 80 percent of global energy needs in transportation rests in oil and gas.

Saudi Arabia through its national oil company Aramco, is striving to be number one refiner globally.

Creating more value from crude oil through refining, marketing, lubes and chemicals, encourages new business and investment growth locally and internationally. The Saudi monarchy may be on its way to

profound. White Americans who consider themselves as the landlords have reacted negatively. Nobody, no group enjoys such intrusions. Yorubas are not an exception. But everybody in America now knows it’s a new reality.

Lagos has grown. And its political dynamics cannot remain stagnant. What happened in Aguda and Okota on the morning of the presidential election could be regarded as expected tantrums. But there is a new equilibrium. Tantrums won’t solve it. The political parties and their supporters have to get used to it.

It’s a complex social problem. Lagos could at some point become demographically unrecognizable to those who knew it in 1900.

Cities are social organisms.

It is hoped that Lagos will take this little conflict in its stride. But we won’t forget to note the hypocrites the conflict has unmasked . On the one hand, some acclaimed prodemocracy activists have supported devious attempts to intimidate Igbos and curtail their influence in Lagos politics. These activists who routinely masquerade as promoters of our constitutional democracy want Igbos to save their political activism for Igbo land.

On the other hand, many of those championing the Lagos is ‘no-man’s-land’ agenda are the same folks championing the dream of Biafra. If Lagos is no man’s land then the very idea of Biafra cannot exist. Because the Biafra project is premised on the belief that there is an Igbo land, with many Igbo cities, within Nigeria which is not a ‘no man’s land.’

Igbo and Lagos have had a symbiotic relationship. Igbos must seek to improve Lagos. But tact rather than brashness would be more useful. Rather than run around streets chanting slogans that irritate others, Igbos must develop ways to improve Igbo voter turn out in subsequent elections in the state. Igbos must make the building of inter ethnic bridges their priority. The average Igbo man is not timid, he is competitive. But his aim is not to dominate anybody, neither in Lagos nor in Nigeria. success, though some analysts say a mixed bag. The Kingdom is building leading alliances, by entering long-term partnerships with neighbouring and friendly countries for knowledge transfer and trade. Saudi Aramco aims to expand its global refining capacity to 8 million10 million barrels per day, bpd from its present 5.4 million bpd.

Aramco which gained a foothold in the US refining industry in 1988 in a joint venture with Texaco, later in acquisitions and mergers, that created Motiva, in a 50-50 refining and marketing partnership with Shell, parted ways in 2017. Aramco took full ownership of Motiva’s Port Arthur refinery and turning the facility into one of the best performing refineries on the US Gulf Coast. The 630,000-bpd facility is the largest U.S. refinery. Motiva plans to invest US$6.6 billion to expand the Port Arthur refinery into making chemicals, and another US$1.9 billion in a complex in Texas to produce benzene and paraxylene. Port Arthur achieved a gross refining margin of US$13-US$14 per barrel in 2018, the highest among Aramco’s downstream portfolio. The company also owns a network of retail stations in the US Southeast, as well as some research centers.

Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman recently concluded a tour of Pakistan, India and China, with several multibillion-dollar refinery and petrochemical deals announced. In January, Saudi Aramco in a joint venture partnership with Malaysia’s Petronas formed a Refinery and Petrochemical Integrated Development, RAPID project.

Saudi Arabia is in talks to build an oil refinery in South Africa as part of a pledge to invest as much as US$10 billion.

Aramco IPO is valued at US$2 trillion, a figure that would raise a record US$100 billion by selling a 5 percent stake possibly this year for the world’s most profitable company.

SATURDAY Vanguard, MARCH 9, 2019—35

BY HENRY UMORU

W

SENATE PRESIDENCY:

ith the conduct of February 23 Presidential and National Assembly elections and the results declared by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, the next stage of battle and permutations would be who becomes number three citizen of the country.

The battle for who become the two Presiding officers, the Senate President and deputy Senate President would now shift to the National Assembly with intrigues, backstabbing playing out even though the present 8th Senate would elapse June 8, with the 9th Session inaugurated the next day.

Following the results released by INEC after the National Assembly election, the ruling party, the All Progressives Congress, APC has the highest number of both new and old senators, with a total number of sixty four Senators.

The opposition, Peoples Democratic Party, PDP has a total number of forty Senators, the Young Progressive Party, YPP has one Senator, bringing that to a total of one hundred and five Senators, with four yet to be declared in Imo, Taraba and Plateau States as at the time of filing in this report.

In determining who becomes the Presiding officers, the Senate Rule allows only a ranking senator to be selected for this purpose and being that the APC has the majority, the candidate will likely come from within its caucus.

Another determining factor for clinching the position of Senate President is that out of 109 Senators, the person would require fifty five votes.

Though the senators-elect have not yet stepped up campaigns for who will be Nigeria’s next number three citizen, judging from what happened in 2015 and the body language of the old Senators, the picture may be getting clearer.

The question now is, will the APC allow the 2015 scenario play out again in the choice of the Senate President and the deputy when the present Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki was able to outsmart his then party, the All Progressives Congress, APC to become the number three citizen.

Has the APC learnt its lessons from what happened then?

Recalling the 2015 Scenario, the day was June 9, 2015 and the locale was the Senate Hallowed Chamber when the then forty nine Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) senators led by former Senate President, David Mark, in alliance with the twenty five senators of APC, led by senator Bukola Saraki outsmarted the APC, Unity Forum The meeting was to discuss among others, senators, and their consensus candidate for the Senate President, Ahmed Lawan, APC, the way forward on the election and because Yobe North to elect Saraki and Senator Ike of this many APC senators, especially those who were rooting for Ekweremadu, PDP, Enugu Ahmad Lawan were West to lead the 8th present at the proposed Senate. meeting with Buhari.

Prior to that historic day, To actualize their there were issues as fifty plans, the Like Minds nine APC senators were senators who were in divided between Saraki Saraki’s camp and Lawan on twenty five boycotted the scheduled and thirty four ratio, In determining who meeting with Buhari, leaving the PDP with a and proceeded to the becomes the bloc of forty nine senators.

National Assembly Then, the Like Mind Presiding officers, the where they actively senators had projected participated in the Senate Rule allows Saraki as their preferred nomination and candidate for the position only a ranking emergence of Bukola of Senate President. The Saraki as an unopposed APC and the Unity Forum senator to be Senate President. senators on the other hand It was gathered that projected Ahmad Lawan selected for this while the Unity Forum as their consensus purpose and being senators were still candidate for the Senate waiting for the meeting, President and former that the APC has the they later got the minority leader from June majority, the information that Saraki 2011 to June 2015, Senator had been elected the George Akume, Benue candidate will likely Senate President.

North West was penciled come from within its On hearing this, they down for the position of immediately rushed to caucus deputy Senate President. the National Assembly, All is now history, as it but unfortunately for would be recalled that them, before they could prior to the inauguration, enter the chambers, the nomination and the APC National Publicity Secretary, Lai Mohammed, had issued a statement that confirmation of Saraki as the Senate the APC senators would be meeting with President had been concluded.

Also recall that before the election the President, Muhammadu Buhari, at commenced, the former Clerk of the the International Conference Center (ICC) National Assembly, Salisu Maikasuwa, in by nine O’clock. line with the Article 2 of the Senate Standing

Ahmad Lawan on the march

Orders 2015 performed his duty of calling the Senate to order.

At the end of the day, Maikasuwa confirmed the presence of fifty seven senators, even as he said that the required forum according to the Senate Standing Rules, is thirty eight, which he said had been satisfied and directed that the election exercise should commence.

To give the process a legal backing as well as validate it, the former Clerk to the National Assembly read a letter from President Muhammadu Buhari, in which he directed that the election, swearing in and inauguration of the senators-elect and Honourable members-elect should be carried out on that said date by 10: AM. Having said this, former governor of Zamfara State, Senator Ahmed Sani, APC, Zamfara West then nominated Saraki to be elected as the Senate President, which was seconded by Senator Dino Melaye, Kogi West who was at that time a member of the APC. Saraki was unanimously elected by 57 senators present at the session while the remaining 51 senators were at the ICC. In continuation of the election process, Maikasuwa then called for nominations for the position of Deputy Senate President, with Senator Sekibo Thompson George, PDP, Rivers East nominating Senator Ike Ekweremadu and seconded by another Senator then from Rivers, Senator Olaka Nwogu, PDP, Rivers South East and when further nominations were asked for, Senator Ali Ndume, APC, Borno South was nominated.

Following the nomination of both Ekweremadu and Ndume, it became obvious that there would be an election and

at this point, the Clerk asked that the ballot box be brought in and after the voting and counting, Senator Ike Ekweremadu was declared elected, having scored fifty four votes to defeat Ali Ndume, who polled twenty votes, while one voter was declared absent.

After the election, Senator Ali Ndume who was present during the election and satisfied with the process, congratulated Ekweremadu with a warm embrace.

With the 2019 National Assembly election over who becomes the next presiding officers come June 9th, 2019?

Top on the list from the APC for the position of Senate President are the present Senate leader, Senator Ahmad Lawan, APC, Yobe North who was picked for the position by the APC caucus prior to the emergence of the Present Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki.

Senator Lawan who is loved by his colleagues, is said to be well prepared for the position against the backdrop that in 2015, the North West Senators had adopted him as their preferred candidate for the position and the former Senate President, Senator David Mark had preferred him to Senator George Akume who was also interested then.

Of the APC Senators, Senator Lawan who holds a doctorate degree and a former lecturer, is the most ranking having come to the National Assembly in 1999, first as a member of the Federal House of Representatives from 1999 to 2007 and got elected senate in 2007.

Another thing that would work in his favour is that in Yobe State where he comes from, other Senators are coming as fresh ones and age is also on his side. He has the vigour, he is resourceful, he is diligent and articulate in his presentation, just as a former contender, Akume is out of the Senate.

Lawan’s Legislative Interest include Public Finance,Education And Appropriation.

Senator Ahmad Ibrahim Lawan was born in 1959. He received a bachelor’s degree in geography from the University of Maiduguri, a master ’s degree in remote sensing from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria and a doctorate degree in remote sensing/GIS from Cranfield University, UK, just as he had at different times, chaired the House Committees on education and Agriculture.

Lawan was elected to the Senate in 2007.

In 2008, he was a member of the National Assembly ’s Joint Committee on Constitution Review. In 2009, as chairman of the Senate committee on Public Accounts, Lawan initiated and sponsored the Desertification Control Commission Bill and in August 2009, Senator Lawan spoke against the proposed Kafin Zaki Dam where he said that the Tiga Dam and Challawa GorgeDam had already reduced water flow drastically, and the Jama’are River was now the main source of water in the Yobe River.

According to him, the Dams caused intense poverty, increased desert encroachment, migration and conflicts between arable farmers and herdsmen.

His target achievement is to work with his colleagues to create an egalitarian society in the country.

Another Senator who has been interested and may still be showing interest is former governor of Nasarawa State, Senator Abdullahi Adamu, Nasarawa West who is now seventy two years and came to the Senate in 2011.

The former Senate leader, Senator Ali Ndume, Borno South is also said to be eying the position. Ndume first came to the National Assembly in 2003 as a member of the House of Representatives and came to the Senate in 2011.

Ndume is the most Senior among the Senators from his State. While Senator Abubakar Kyari, Borno North is coming the second time, the other Senator Kassim Shettima who is presently the governor is coming as a fresher to represent Borno Central.

It was gathered that the South South would produce the Deputy Senate President and with the calculations, the present deputy Chief Whip, Senator Francis Alimikhena, APC, Edo North is most suitable for the position following his experience, age and having served as a principal officer, he is already equipped for the position.

Though from the South South, Senator Ovie Omo- Agege, Delta Central was reelected, he would be adequately compensated for being a very loyal supporter of President Muhammadu Buhari with a juicy committee.

36—SATURDAY Vanguard, MARCH 9, 2019

GOING TO WAR:

A Reporter’s diary of Nigeria’s 2019 Presidential Election

By Omeiza Ajayi

A

s a journalist, one is apprehensive covering Nigeria’s elections for several reasons because rather than being seen as a festival of some sorts, Nigeria’s General Elections are more like battle royale.

So, when we conduct elections, we actually go to war. In short, for Nigerians, nay Africans, it would appear that election is war, not by other means, but in the literal sense of the word.

There are other reasons journalists might be apprehensive covering the elections. A journalist could be a cannon fodder during a violent cross fire between disputants.

In fact, the International Press Centre IPC, Lagos recently expressed strong concerns over reported incidents of attacks on journalists and other media professionals during the Presidential and Senatorial elections held on Saturday February 23, 2019.

According to the IPC, not less than five journalists and media professionals faced one form of harassment or the other including arrest, denial of access to collation centres and gunshot injury.

The details of these incidents include, the arrest of Nwanosike Onu of The Nation, Geoffrey Anyanwu of Sun, David-Chyddy Eleke of THISDAY, Vincent Ujumadu of Vanguard and Tony Okafor of Punch by a team of fully armed police officers close to the residence of Mr. Peter Obi (Vice Presidential Candidate PDP), Anambra where they had gone to cover his activities during the voting exercise.

Also documented is the shooting of Reginald Dei, a Government House photographer at his residence by unidentified armed men who were said to be in military uniform at Oweikorogha, Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of Bayelsa State. It is believed that he is in critical condition.

The report also showed that some groups of journalists were barred from monitoring results collation in Ugheli North, Delta State; Amuwo/Odofin Local Government Area of Lagos State; Bauchi and Kebbi State.

these set of people, including political thugs who sometimes appear as politicians or sadly, appear as security agents! Yes! Some of our security operatives are no different from political thugs. In fact, years ago, I recall going for an event at the headquarters of the Independent National Electoral Commission INEC. I had arrived 30 minutes earlier than scheduled. While the programme was slated for 10am, I arrived at about 9:30am.

One of the security operatives kept me waiting outside, on the grounds that I was too early!

He only let me in when it was almost 10am.

In another instance, I was travelling and we were stopped at a roadblock and asked to identify ourselves. I did, and one policeman shouted, “impersonation”, while holding my Identification Card. He continued; “Journalist? Okay, where is NTA, where is NTA”?

In his own warped reasoning, every Nigerian journalist must be working with the Nigerian Television Authority NTA. Let me not digress too much, for if I were to recount my experiences in the hands of security operatives, it would mostly be about the bad and ugly, and less of the good, except for a few friends I have among them.

Now, back to the 2019 Presidential and National Assembly elections. On the day the election was postponed, that was February 16, I had sought to enter the International Conference Centre ICC which served as the National Collation Centre for the Presidential Election results.

After making it through the first cordon, I was stopped at the second cordon and told that I could not proceed without the “Collation Centre Tag”. But how was I to get the tag without entering the ICC to obtain it? This was in spite of the fact that we were actually asked to go to the ICC to obtain the collation centre accreditation tags. We were to be allowed entry having provided other forms of identification including the accreditation tag for general election coverage and work identity card.

While trying to make them see reason, an ambulance belonging to INEC came and they

In fact, the International Press Centre IPC, Lagos recently expressed strong concerns over reported incidents of attacks on journalists and other media professionals during the Presidential and Senatorial elections held on Saturday February 23, 2019

My Experience Having covered Nigerian politics as well as security agencies for a decade, I am certainly not a stranger to the attitude and character of

did not immediately allow it entry despite the driver’s explanation that he had been called urgently. “Today, we are in charge, we can even stop you from entering your house”, those were the words of the Police Sergeant, in response to the ambulance driver.

I was only able to enter, when another man came and began to quarrel with the police having been denied entry. So, in their anger, the policemen decided that I could go in, but swore on the graves of their ancestors that the “quarrelsome” man was not going any further.

They were in charge and they were intoxicated with their little powers. That was at about 8:30pm. I left the ICC around midnight after collecting my tag. During the hours of waiting, angry mosquitoes made a mince meat of me and my other colleagues including Friday Olokor of The Punch, Vincent Ikuomola of The Nation, Romanus Ugwu of The Sun, Taiwo Amodu of Nigerian Tribune, Emeka Nze of Blueprint and Okey Nnabuchi of Galaxy Television. It was as though we were the ones who discovered the mosquito-killing aerosols and it was payback time for us.

By 12:15am, I was at the INEC headquarters where we stood for hours, practically “Waiting for Godot”. After a long stay in the chilling cold, we were allowed entry into the commission where the INEC Chairman, the highly-cerebral Prof. Mahmood Yakubu confirmed our fears. The elections were to be postponed. For any journalist, the postponement was an extension of their stress.

On my part, during all this period, I tried to be very careful because certain overzealous security operatives were looking for an opportunity to exhibit their unprofessionalism and unbridled hatred for the local media. One actually queried a female colleague for sitting at the “ owner ’s corner “ while being Chauffeur-driven to the Collation Centre. Not knowing the lady to be a GL14 personnel in one of the Federal Government-owned media outfits as well as the daughter of a retired army general, the policeman had reportedly said to her; “Small madam. So, as you small reach so, driver dey carry you for back?” The lady didn’t find that funny, but that is a story for another day. But it was on this day that a Policeman tried to run over me. The navy-blue Police Hilux car, labelled “FCT Police, Abaji” on the side was stationed somewhere at the front of Nixon Luxury Hotel. I was on my lane heading towards the ICC when around the Traffic Light by the hotel, the police driver who drove against traffic began flashing me to clear to the other lane in spite of the presence of cars on that lane. Were it not for the gift of not getting confused in such situations, he almost overran me, brushing my right side mirror in the process.

Water as scarce commodity For the elections, my wife, Nahimat had bought two big fowls and specially prepared them for me; well fried and adequately peppered. Then, I had stocked my car with drinks of at least four brands, not for me alone, but in case anyone needed anything of such.

For us, elections should be a festival. On the election day, February 23, I could not immediately go in with my personal food not until hours later. By then, the food was spoilt, save for the chicken. At the “Media Centre”, there was food, but water was a scarce commodity. Many of us needed more fluids than food. For a caterer serving 100 people or more, one would have thought that water in excess of the food would have been provided, but sadly that was not the case! Some of us declined to eat for the remaining days due to the attitude of some of the caterers to our colleagues. For a professional journalist, food is the last thing he thinks of.

In spite of all, we weathered the storm, staying up for days without sleeping especially in the final days of the collation. On one of those days, I got home around 4am. At about 6:30 am, I was still asleep when I had a slap in my face. It was my second daughter, Ometere, a two-year old. She and her elder sister, four-year old Orahachi have a habit of waking me up that way whenever they are dressed for school and they enter my room, shouting “daddy, daddy”, for me to wake up and look at their beautiful selves, pray for them and kiss them.

That morning, I had to return to the Collation Centre. I almost slept on the steering driving from Kubwa to the Central Business District, a journey of about 22 kilometres or thereabout.

Network Jam On the day the Certificates of Return were presented to President-elect, Muhammadu Buhari and Vice President-elect, Yemi Osinbajo, we had the usual challenge with presidential security guards who normally jam telecommunications network each time the president was to visit an area. In line with our distasteful craving for anything and everything foreign, the operatives decided to jam the networks but left only one “for the sake of foreign journalists”, as one of them said.

Left to the operatives, it did not matter to them that Nigerian journalists were also livestreaming. Thankfully, I had four different networks, fully subscribed, which was how I was able to beam the event to our followers on Vanguard Live. As always, the Vanguard Team from the Management down to my colleagues were very supportive during this period, both in cash and kind.

Going forward, we must review our processes of conducting elections. What we have now is a very crazy situation where everybody works like a mad man. It is terribly unhelpful. While credit must be given to the INEC Media Team consisting of the Chief Press Secretary to the INEC Chairman, Mr Rotimi Oyekanmi and his team as well as the Director, Voter Education, Publicity, Gender and Civil Society Liaison, Mr Oluwole OsazeUzi, the facility managers of the ICC must do well to ensure a regular fumigation of the centre. Some of us would perhaps have to go for checks and possibly be treated for malaria.

SATURDAY

Ourelectoralprocess can only get better

BY BOLAJI AKANNI

clinched by a mile. The rest is history: the 16-year reign of the People’s Democratic In 2015, March was Nigeria’s golden Party (PDP) had come to an end.

The old general has repeated the 2015 month. On the 31stMarch 2015, the then President of the Republic Dr. Goodluck feat by defeating the PDP candidate in the Ebele Jonathan, and presidential February 23, 2019 presidential polls, candidate of the then ruling People’s former Vice President Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, by quite a Democratic Party (PDP) in that handsome margin (15.1 year ’s presidential polls wrote million to 10.7 million his name into history when he votes), to clinch a secondcalled his main opponent and term mandate. But March candidate of the All has literally lost the” gold Progressives Congress (APC) medal” it won four years Muhammadu Buhari to accept ago. There would be no call defeat. He also congratulated from the defeated to the the former army general for victor this time. And the winning at his fourth attempt Nigerians are hell to claim the coveted prize. bent on a vicious reason is that some Nigerians are hell bent on The next day, April 1, there a vicious campaign to erode were many who thought that campaign to public confidence and faith people were springing “April erode public in the electoral process fool” jokes on them when the simply because their news of Jonathan’s most confidence and beloved candidate had lost. commendable action filled the faith in the Since the announcement airwaves. They were most of the final results, probably those who had electoral process President Buhari has walked away from their simply because received well-deserved television sets when, in the greetings from the midst of the announcement of their beloved results on live television by candidate had lost international community and prominent national then Independent National groups and statesmen. The Electoral Commission (INEC) United States, on its part chairman Professor Attahiru congratulated President Jega, the great “Elder ” himself, Godsday Orubebe, staged his Buhari on his re-election and also award-winning show of shame as he tried, commended Nigerians for the generally screaming and cursing, to truncate the peaceful elections. In particular, the US announcement process. Anyway, the noted “the assessments of international results from all the states were all but in, and domestic observer missions affirming save for Borno, which the retired general the overall credibility of the election,

despite localised violence and irregularities.”Whist congratulating Buhari on his re-election, the United Kingdom noted that “the result declared by the Nigerian election Commision is consistent with the result obtained through the civil society Parallel Vote Tabulation process. Along with our international partners, the UK believes the Nigerian people can have confidence in the result.

Although President Buhari has implored his supporters not to gloat over his victory, the outcome of the election, was,in reality, quite predictable–a resounding victory for the APC flagbearer whose relentless anticorruption campaign has been the signpost of his first term in office. Apart from his battle against sleaze and unrelenting plugging of most of the loopholes exploited for official malfeasance, President Buhari had embarked on what many have described as the most ambitious infrastructural projects in the country’s history as his government built and rehabilitated roads and rails massively across the country, stabilized many states that were on the brink of bankruptcy and invested heavily in education, agriculture and social intervention schemes targeted at poor and the most vulnerable members of society.

The New York Times called the contest between Buhari and Atiku, “ a referendum on honesty”. That reasoning is hinged on the fact that, for a vast majority of Nigerians, the attraction of integrity in leadership remainsthe strongest on the quality and desirability

APC, PDP differ on why Buhari won votes in Benue against all odds

By Peter Duru, Makurdi

T

he 2019 Presidential and National Assembly elections may have come and gone but after a close look at the outcome of the exercise in Benue state, one cannot but conclude that it came with significant surprise that could define and chart the way for future political contests in the state.

At the end of the polls, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, swept the three available senatorial seats and six of the 11 House of Representatives positions. The All Progressives Congress, APC, took one, the All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, took two while two others where declared inconclusive.

Curiously, the spread and volume of the votes garnered by the presidential candidates of the two dominant parties, the PDP and the APC have left tongues wagging.

Pundits had expected that the PDP candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar would record a clean sweep of the polls, following the persistent outcry and resentment expressed by the people of the state, before the elections, over the manner the Buhari led federal government handled the killings in the state.

The impression across the country and beyond was that the election would provide the people a veritable platform to pay back the APC led federal government in their own coin by massively voting for Atiku Abubakar.

Strangely, that was not to be and at the end of collation of ballots and the final declaration by the state collation officer, Prof. Sebastian Maimako, the PDP candidate emerged victorious with a total of 355,255 votes to defeat President Muhammadu Buhari who garnered 347,668 votes. That victory recorded a narrow margin of 7,587 votes.

While the PDP candidate won in 12 LGAs of the state, President Buhari secured 11 LGAs with many of that votes coming from the Tiv speaking areas of the state who, apart from Agatu, bore the brunt of marauding herdsmen at the heat of the attacks on Benue

•Atiku

•Buhari

•Ortom

communities.

When Saturday Vanguard sought the opinion of a bigwig of the APC and Returning Agent of the party, Mr. Joe Abaagu on the secret of the performance of his party in the presidential election, he said President Buhari's poverty alleviation programme did the magic.

According to him, "the N-Power and school feeding programmes and other support interventions of the Buhari led administration did the wonder for us.

Those programmes were successful in this state and the people actually benefitted from them which invariably went a long way to influence their choice."

On his part, PDP stalwart and Returning Agent for the party, Mr. Alex Adum blamed votes falsification and buying for the high number of votes returned by the APC in the presidential election.

Adum said, "the high number of votes in the presidential election, came from four principal local governments where the party

Vanguard, MARCH 9,, 2019—37

spectrum, far more than the primordial considerations of tribal and ethnic leanings, and even religion.

Thankfully, we did not witness another “Elder Godsday Orubebe show” during the announcement of the results of the February 23 2019 polls at the INEC’s National Collation Centre in Abuja by the unflappable Professor Mahmood Yakubu, INEC chairman. But what we seem to have instead of a repeat of that despicable spectacle four years ago, is, in my opinion, even more condemnable.

And, that is the clearly unpatriotic attempts by some Nigerians, especially the opposition PDP and their supporters, to totally denigrate and discredit our electoral process whilst also condemning the conduct of the February 23, 2019 Presidential and National Assembly elections in its entirety.

Indeed, the media, both mainstream and social, have lately been awash with an orchestrated campaign to paint the process that produced President Buhari’sre-election as heavily rigged in his favour and preponderantly tainted with irregularities. Nothing could be farther from the truth.

Yes, there were irregularities here and there and there were also pockets of violence in some parts of the country.

There were reports of late arrival of electoral materials leading, inevitably, to late voting at some centres; malfunctionedcard readers, snatching of ballot boxes, alleged seizure of electoral materials from unauthorized persons and groups, alleged tampering with poll results between polling stations and collation points, heavy military presence in a couple of states and, sadly, the loss of some lives arising from election violence.

Wherever they are widespread or become the norm, these violations would definitely detract from the minimum standards expected of a free and fair election. However, there is no record or evidence that the irregularities and violations identified by local or international observers generally characterized the February 23 2019 election.

Clearly no election anywhere can really be deemed perfect and totally hitchfree.

To be sure, the entire spectrum of our electoral system and institution needs constant fine-tuning, amendments and adjustments. The process can only get better. After all, after more than three centuries of conducting elections the United States is still doing just that.

*BOLAJI AKANNI is a Public Policy Analyst based in Lagos

garnered huge votes, and theses are Konshisha, Vandeikya, Kwande and Makurdi.

"In those four local governments it was a combination of vote buying, falsification of figures and outright rigging of the elections. In Konshisha it was outright thumb printing that occurred there, in Makurdi it was falsification of the figures after collation and in Vandeikya it was outright thumb printing and same in Kwande.

"In Makurdi for instance, the difference between accredited voters and actual ballot cast was over 10,600 or there about.

But because my collation agents at the local governments were not vigilant, they allowed the results to pass.

"Total voters who were accredited were about 64,000, now the tally came to the collation centre the total tally rose from about 64,000 to about 75,000 and the collation officer could not explain how he came about that difference.

"In Konshisha we had records of about 19,000 votes that were thumb printed and the Returning Officer couldn't reconcile them but allowed it to go, same for Vandeikya. So, it is not as if those votes APC garnered in Benue were cast for the party, they were a combination of votes cast for the party, rigged votes and votes that were bought. And the buying machine of APC included direct buying on the queue on the day of voting and the fact that they were using the Trader Moni to induce some certain level of people and N-Power to push it. So a combination of these factors essentially pushed the APC votes”.

Reacting, Convener of the Middle Belt Movement for Justice and Peace, MBMJP, Comrade Joe Bukka said the entire world especially those who sympathized with Benue over the herdsmen killings in the state were in shock and disbelief over the number of votes recorded by APC presidential candidate in the state.

Bukka said, "the conclusion of most of us who have been following the ordeal of the people was that those figures were manufactured but the next election will give us a clearer picture of the mindset of the people of the state”.

38 — SATURDAY Vanguard, MARCH 9, 2019

Lumumba, said: “We want the government to expedite action on the passage of the Petroleum Industry Bill.

The last bill was reviewed in 1959,” adding that there should be local refining of crude oil instead of importation, to save cost, among other things.

The PENGASSAn scribe urged Buhari to also ensure transparency and positive reforms that would change the lives of the masses.

Deputy General-Secretary of the National Union of Textile, Garment and Tailoring Workers, NUTGTWN, Mr Ismail Bello, urged policies that will revive the textile sector and create jobs.

He lamented that unfavourable business environment, and smuggling, among others had made textile manufacturing hubs in Kano, Kaduna and Lagos unproductive camps, adding that of the 250 textile firms in Nigeria, only 25 are operational but struggling to remain functional, due to smuggling and counterfeiting.

His words: “There is need for the government to create the right environment and improve the economy, to help create more employment.

Industrialisation is the key to development of any nation.”

President of the National Union of Chemical, Footwear, Rubber, Leather and Non-Metallic Products, NUCFRLANMPE , Babatunde Olatunji, advised the government to commence implementation of the leather policy promised on October 31, 2018, noting that any policy made to develop the sector would improve the nation’s gross domestic product, and curb influx of foreign footwear and leather.

Artisans, youths speak

SECOND TERM:

Tasks before Buhari

By Clifford Ndujihe

E

XCEPT the courts rule otherwise, President Muhammadu Buhari of the All Progressives Congress, APC, will rule Nigeria for another four years. His second term will begin on May 29, 2019 and end on May 29, 2023.

He was handed a second term on February 23 when he polled 15,191,847 votes, beating his closest marker, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, who scored 10,782, 007 votes.

Atiku is alleging massive rigging of the polls and has approached the courts for redress. Unless the PDP flagbearer gets favourable ruling, Buhari’s fresh fouryear mandate will be exercised.

On the heels of the election outcome, many Nigerians have saddled the president with a number of issues they want him to address in his second term. These issues cut across security, economy, and infrastructure among others.

Early steps

On March 1, President Buhari said his second term would be tough. speaking when members of the Federal Executive Council, FEC, paid him a congratulatory visit, Buhari said: “My last lap of four years, I think is going to be tough. People are very forgetful and that’s why during the campaign, I spoke

about our cardinal agenda.”

President Buhari, however, moderated his comments on Wednesday, he said that he would work harder in his second term than he did in the last four years to confront the country’s challenges.

He assured Nigerians that he would deliver more in tackling insecurity, corruption and improving on the economy to make the country a better place than he found it in 2015.

Buhari spoke in Abuja when he met with the leadership of the Arewa Consultative Forum, ACF, which was led by the Chairman of the Board of Trustees, Alhaji Adamu Fika, at the Presidential Villa.

“This is my last lap and I will try to work even harder than I have done. I assure you, I will not let you down, I will do my best and I will pray to God, my best will be good enough. I thank you very much indeed,’’ he told the group that visited to congratulate him on his re-election.

Unless the PDP flagbearer gets favourable ruling, Buhari’s fresh four-year mandate will be exercised

In the beginning

Nigerians welcomed Buhari with huge expectations when he assumed power in 2015. However, under

his administration, Nigeria’s unemployment rate more than doubled, from 10.4 per cent in January 2016 to 23.1 per cent in July 2018. The fortunes of Nigerians worsened as the country quickly slipped into recession. The country went into recession in 2016, with a negative 1.6 per cent growth rate. There was a rebound in economic growth of about 2 per cent in 2018. The International Monetary Fund, IMF, forecasts that growth will remain anaemic at an annual average of about 1.9 per cent from 2019 to 2023, which indicates that a robust economic policy has to be in place to sustain and increase the growth rate and avert a relapse.

In spite of his efforts the president in the last four years could not halt rising poverty. Under his watch, Nigeria overtook India as the country with the largest number of people living in extreme poverty. About 87 million Nigerians, or half the population, live on less than US$1.90 per day as of last June.

The number is reported to have risen to 90 million now.

These are some of the issues he must confront head long in his second term.

Issues that must addressed urgently – Labour leaders

Speaking on the issue labour leaders enumerated specific areas the president must address urgently to improve the economy and raise the standard of living of the citizens, especially workers and the ordinary citizenry.

General-Secretary of the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria, PENGASSAN, Okugbawa

Asked what she expects of President Buhari in the next four years, a lady, who is a food vendor in Kirikiri, Lagos said: ‘’We are hungry. Let him fix the road for us. We spend three hours on the road everyday while going home after work.

Things are very hard.’’

Also, Mr. Husseini Usman, a cobbler, who hails from Borno but lives in Kirikiri area of Lagos, said: ‘’There are three things I want the president to do. First, I want good border control. Our borders are porous. Foreigners come in from every where and enter our country. Some of them have our voters card, and national identity card. Our immigration should stop them. ‘’Another thing is job. We don’t have jobs. Ministry of labour is doing nothing.

We also have the Boko Haram problem. I am from Borno State. My state is the worst hit by the Boko Haram insurgency. We are suffering from Boko Haram insurgency He said he will defeat Boko Haram in his first four years but Boko Haram has not been defeated. Let him defeat Boko Haram in his second term.’’

The tasks

• Avoid the mistakes of his first term • Get his cabinet ready on time instead of waiting for six months to nominate ministers • Surround himself with qualified people and technocrats from all parts of the country • Wage war against corruption on all fronts, shed the toga of perceived selectivity and get high profile convictions • Take infrastructure development to the next level by completing his railway projects, the Second Niger Bridge, and fix inter-regional highways across the country • Revive the economy • Get 90 million Nigerians living under extreme poverty out of poverty • Create job opportunities for 20.9 million unemployed youths • Fix the intractable power challenge • Lead efforts to get 13.2 million out-ofschool children back to school • Get Nigerians to be more united • Conduct free, fair and credible polls in 2023 and ensure peaceful transition.

SATURDAY Vanguard, MARCH 9, 2019—39

08116759759

Topless Rio Carnival dancers flaunt eye-popping outfits at street party

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io Carnival is the world’s biggest carnival, and sees people, floats, and all manner of colourful fabrics sweeping the city. Two million people per day are expected to take to the streets, in the festival that has occurred since the 1400s. From a samba school to the elaborate costumes, wallflowers are certainly not at the centre of this parade. With everything currently underway, we look at the history of the carnival and when it’s held each year.

The original Rio Carnival in the 1600s started as a way to honour the Greek Gods. There would be feasting and plenty of wine drunk in reverence of a good grape harvest. In 1840, the first Rio masquerade took place,

adding polka and waltzing.

It’s evolved even further over the years as Brazil itself has changed, as samba was brought in in 1917, making what is now traditional Brazilian sounds. Currently it exists as a massive party and celebration of all things joyful. There are drag queens, a gay ball, and street parties that last long into The festivities each year begin on the Friday before Ash Wednesday, and last the six days leading up. The champions’ parade will be held after the main carnival ends (this year on Saturday, 9 March).

This year, the carnival goes on from 1 to 6 March. The main parades are on 3 March and 4 March. Next year it’ll begin on 21 February and end on 26 February.

Fruitarian man swears by drinking pint of old urine each day to feel 'amazing'

balanced diet , eight hours' sleep and 20 minutes of exercise a day we know that all of these are the building blocks of a healthy lifestyle.

A Fabian Farquharson, however, has his own trusted wellbeing method -

Dad offers blokes £250K and a farm to marry virgin daughter, 26

A

rnon Rodthong, 58, is willing to give up all his assets to help his girl, Karnsita, 26, find Mr Right.

And Arnon reveals there are no restrictions on who can apply – as long as they “work hard and make Karnista happy.”

But there’s a catch – the family grow durian, otherwise known as the world’s smelliest fruit, likened to raw sewage.

So the ideal suitor will probably need a strong stomach.

University graduate Karnista, who is fluent in English and Chinese, has been helping to run the farm in southern Thailand’s Chumphon province.

Local custom dictates that a man

should pay a dowry – with Karnista expected to command a high fee.

But her frustrated father has waived the payment in desperation to find his daughter a suitable match.

Arnon has instead agreed to give his future son-in-law 10m Thai baht (240,000GBP) plus they will have a stake in his sprawling farm valued at several millions of pounds.

Arnon revealed: “I don’t want a person with a bachelor’s, or master’s or philosopher’s degree.

“I want someone to take care of my business and make it last.

“I want a diligent man. I just want someone with a hard-working attitude. That’s all.” ''As soon as I have an in-law, I will give up all my assets to him.''

Businessman Arnon processes around 50 tonnes of durian – a valuable fruit which is in high demand from China – every day.

His farm is said to be the biggest in the region.

But Karnista, who has older brothers, is still single after her father’s public appeal to find her a partner.

And she told how she has her own plans for his cash – to fund cosmetic surgery in Korea.

She added: ''I first found out about my father's post when my friend's showed me.

“I was surprised but I can see the funny side to it, too. ''It is true that I am still single. “If I have to get married with someone, I only want him to be a diligent and good person who loves his family.”

and it's probably not to everybody's taste.

For the past three years the 37 year-old interior designer has been gulping down on a rather unusual concoction.

Having read up about the so-called health benefits of urine, Fabian, from Sheffield, now happily drinks a pint of his own "product" every day.

Fabian began researching alternative therapies back in 2013 after continuously suffering from stomach pains which doctors had not been able to diagnose or treat successfully.

"I was travelling a lot for work and eating junk food - Burger King, McDonald's, anything convenient," Fabian says.

With no cure or explanation in sight, Fabian decided to adopt a more holistic diet and commenced a "fruitarian" diet (where you only eat raw fruit) and says he noticed a difference almost immediately.

As part of his research, Fabian then stumbled across information about drinking urine.

"I've always been open-minded about that sort of thing, so I decided to give it a go and drink it fresh.

"It tasted a bit like a bitter ale initially, it was quite strong but not a terrible taste and I had no problem finishing the glass."

The effects he felt were even more instantaneous than those of his fruitarian diet. "It was about half an hour later that I started to feel amazing, I was absolutely bursting with energy. Now I'd never go a day without it and would recommend it to anyone."

Having felt better for drinking fresh urine, Fabian then began leaving some for up to a month to ferment until it reached a level of PH nine.

This, he explains, is because by ageing the urine it goes through a 'magnification process' and any purported. benefits are made more potent.

Explaining the process of ageing his urine, Fabian said: "I store it in glass containers like mason jars, label it with the date and then leave it for around 30 days."

40—SATURDAY Vanguard, MARCH 9, 2019

•Sen. Hadi Sirika

Aviation in the eyes of Sirika Stories by Lawani Mikairu

T

he Minister of State, Aviation, Sen. Hadi Sirika in this interview, takes a look at how the Nigerian aviation industry has fared in almost four years of President Muhammadu Buhari.

He said that the construction and commissioning of new terminals, acquisition of navigational aids and the recent payment of gratuities and pensions of the former national carrier, Nigeria Airways remained unprecedented in the annals of the industry.

Excerpt: When asked to assess the performance of the Buhari administration in almost four years in the Nigerian aviation industry , the minister said: “ As you know, aviation as a globallyregulated industry; any lapses in one state is clearly monitored and exposed by the others.

In Nigeria under the present administration headed by President Muhammadu Buhari, many achievements have been recorded in the sector and these are verifiable. To succinctly put it, aviation achievements under President Buhari are unprecedented. They are not hidden.

“One of the major achievements of this administration is the sustenance of safety, which has been phenomenal. It is on record that since this administration came on board, there has not been an accident to commercial airlines and this has further boosted and restored confidence of the flying public.

However, this achievement would not have been attained without the strong regulatory function of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA). Under this present administration, the country’s air travel has enjoyed huge safety record, which is tremendous.

“The Ministry has recorded significant achievements in virtually all aspects of the sector in the past three years as follows: Growing and Sustaining the Domestic Aviation Industry; Re-introduction of zero import duties on aircraft, engine and introduction of same for spare parts. Intervention to rescue Arik Air and Aero Contractors from total collapse is another milestone, which would have led to the demise of the two airlines and cause huge loss of jobs by professionals in the sector. The two airlines are today still in operation, under receivership.

“Just last December, this government, through the approval of President Buhari, paid 50 per cent of severance and retirement benefits to 5,966 staff of the former national carrier,

Nigeria Airways. The beneficiaries even held a ‘thank you’ rally to appreciate President Buhari for walking the talk. You will recall that the airline was liquidated in 2003 and since its liquidation, several ministers and governments in this country refused to pay their severance packages, which I think was bad for the system.

You don’t treat your citizens bad and expect the younger ones to put in their best into the system, but President Buhari ensured that they were paid part of their benefits. I can however assure you that the remaining balance would be paid as promised.

“Besides, this administration has ensured a safe and competitive aviation industry resulting in the growth of the sector. The sector recorded an average growth of 33 per cent on domestic operations and 13.5 per cent on international operations between January, 2017 to June, 2018.

This is also unprecedented in this country.

“Also, we provided the enabling environment for domestic airlines in the country to attain certification in the IATA Operational Safety Audit (IOSA). Currently five Nigerian domestic airlines have Certification, while we also designated some of them for international operations.

“On Safety and Security in the sector in the past three years, Sirika said : “The certification of Murtala Muhammed International Airport, (MMIA) Ikeja, Lagos in April, 2017 and Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja in November, 2017 was a milestone and the first ever Airport certification in Nigeria for that matter.

“Let it be known that the certification of the two airports by NCAA placed Nigeria on the pivotal of aviation on the continent as no country in Africa has two of its international airports certified. Also, the certifications of Kano and Port Harcourt Airports have reached advanced stages and would be achieved this year.

“Also, this administration promulgated the new Nigerian Civil Aviation Regulation, which took effect in July, 2016. Nigeria achieved an effective implementation level of 67.36 per cent during the recent International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) Universal Safety Oversight Audit Programme carried out in March, 2016, which is above global average of 63.54 per cent. Nigeria also recorded 96.45 per cent in ICAO Universal Security Audit.

“In the areas of State Safety Programmes, Nigeria has attained Level 3 out of 4 levels, thereby moving Nigeria from red to green on the ICAO dashboard. In line with ICAO and WMO standards, in July 2017, the Nigerian Meteorological Agency acquired ISO 9001 2015 certificate, which qualifies it to offer aeronautical meteorological services. The agency became the first in Africa to be so certified in that category”.

On What the administration has done in the area of navigation aids across the airports, he said : “We have completed the Kano Tower Automated Air Traffic Management and Meteorological Systems, installed the Instrument Landing Systems (ILS) Category II (CAT II), Doppler VORs (DVORs), Distance Measuring Equipment (DMEs) at four airports;

Aer o contract or w plans, cabin cre w dress accessories ero contractor orss un unvveils ne new crew ero Contractors airline has unveiled A new cabin crew dress accessories and revealed plans by the airline to get

back its former share of the aviation market Speaking to aviation reporters at the airline’s corporate headquarters in Lagos, the Chief Executive Officer, Captain Ado Sanusi said the airline is introducing new route and re-launching some of the routes it earlier abandoned during its crisis period.

Captain Sanusi said that in the last 24 months the airline has increased its passengers traffic from 8,000 per month

passenger traffic to over 34,000 with plans to improve on the figures once its commences its new routes.

He said : “First of all, we are celebrating the new face of our cabin crew of Aero contractors and we are unveiling the success we have achieved over the past 24 months, in the state of managing the airline. so the first thing we did was to unveil the new face of the cabin services and to also tell you we have opened new routes and reinstating those ones we suspended to serve our passengers betters.” “ We are starting new routes and we are

No plan ttoo oper at AE fflights lights frfrom om PPor or cour por eace operat atee U UAE ortt Har Harcour courtt Air Airpor portt —Air PPeace ir Peace on Tuesday dismissed A reports that it plans to originate its flights to Sharjah and Dubai in the United

Arab Emirates (UAE) from Port Harcourt, Rivers State. A statement signed by the carrier ’s Corporate Communications Manager, Mr. Chris Iwarah said it had not altered its plan to commence its Sharjah and Dubai services from the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos.

According to Iwarah : “Our attention has been drawn to reports in the media claiming we planned to operate our flights to Sharjah and Dubai in the United Arab Emirates from Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

Lagos, Kano, Port Harcourt and Kaduna completed, while that of Minna, Jos, Yola, Maiduguri, Benin and Akure are still on-going and nearing completion.

“You will also recall that almost two years ago, the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) Installed CAT III Instrument Landing System in Lagos and Abuja, which has helped in great deal to improve operations during inclement weather conditions. Also, we have installed the Very High Frequency (VHF) radios for aerodrome and approach air-ground communication in 18 airports nationwide. The airports are Maiduguri, Enugu, Jos, Calabar, Yola, Ilorin, Sokoto, Lagos, Kano, Abuja, Port Harcourt, Ibadan, Zaria, Katsina, Owerri, Yola, Calabar and Kaduna.

“Besides, we have installed the high power Very High Frequency (VHF) stand-alone radios in Lagos and Kano Area Control Centres (ACC) as backup for air – ground upper airways voice communication and we also embarked on the deployment of Controller-Pilot-Data Link Communication (CPDLC) in Lagos and Kano to enhance communication in the oceanic region and the remote areas of the north.

“Commencement of Aeronautical Information Management Automation Project, which comprises a network of 26 VSAT facilities at all Nigerian airports as well as Search and Rescue (S&R), with coordination domiciled in Lagos.

This will enable Nigeria to comply with the mandatory transition from Aeronautical Information Service (AIS) to Aeronautical Information Management (AIM).

We wish to state that there is no truth in the reports and we urge members of the flying public to discountenance the claims.

“Our plan to operate our Sharjah and Dubai services from the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos remains unchanged. Our strategic plan is to commence our international flight operations from Lagos, with Sharjah and Dubai preceding other routes.

“As we have variously promised, we will eventually expand our international operations to cover other cities and regions of Nigeria and even the West Coast of Africa.

The goal ultimately is to leverage our broad

domestic and regional route network in offering the flying public a reliable alternative. This will be clearer as our long-haul route network unfurls.

“But we envisage that the base of our international operations will remain the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos, while mini-hubs will be created in the North, East and South of Nigeria and West Africa. This, no doubt, will ensure we not only fully realise our vision to create seamless flight connectivity and positively impact the economies of our areas of operations, but also offer the flying public a whole new exceptional experience,” he said.

reinstating already existing routes that were suspended in the past. When I joined we started with eight (8) flights a day all centred around Abuja and Port Harcourt, however, in the past 24 months we have increased to over 30 flights a day.

We were car rying close to 8, 000 passengers a month but now we are almost 32, 000-33,000 passengers a month,” Captain Sanusi said.

The Aero CEO further said “We reintroduced Kano, introduced more frequencies into Abuja, introduced Asaba, introduced Abuja-Asaba, we introduced Warri and recently we introduced Uyo and we are now in the process of introducing Yola so we will have Lagos- Abuja-Yola as planned efforts to open Nigeria up for the passengers. We are also going to be going to the South East, Owerri and Enugu.”

Also speaking at the event, Cabin Service Manager, Mrs. Kudirat Bello said a lot of passengers were not fully aware that Aero had returned full-scale and the airline needed to make a statement to the flying public that safe service delivery was back on the table by Aero.

According to her , “ We just want to tell our passengers that we are back with increased fleet, new routes impeccable service delivery from our crew and we have also changed the accessories on our crew uniform to enhance the beauty.”

SATURDAY Vanguard, MARCH 9, 2019—41

Firm intr oduces ne w Alw ays introduces new Alwa Co tt on Sof Cott tton Softt sanitar sanitaryy pads

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Sunola launc hes Mom’s curr launches curryy, highlights role of research in product devt L-R: Mr. Adarsh Bhaskaran, National Sales Mgr., Sunola Foods Ltd.; Dr. Satish Nair, Executive Director, Sunola Foods Ltd; Mide M a r t i n s , Nollywood Actress; and Mr. Siva Subramaian, G r o u p Managing Director, Kelwaram Chanrai Group during the launch of Mom's Curry Powder in Lagos

Stories by Moses Nosike

S

unola Foods Limited, a fast moving consumer goods company, has launched into the Nigerian market Mom’s curry powder which emphasised the crucial role research and development play in the development of new products.

One of the directors in the company, Satish Nair, told journalists at the unveiling of its new products in Lagos, that the company carried out extensive research that lasted more than six months.

According to him, the research enabled the company to create unique products that appeal to consumers. “ The quality of this Mom’s curry

will attract many Nigerian women because it will add good and more taste to their cooking.

He described Mom’s curry powder, Sunola rice and Sunola sugar as products with competitive prices and customer appeal.

He said that in the coming weeks, a mobile kitchen would be deployed to strategic markets in the country by the company in order to allow consumers and traders to experience the taste and aroma of its curry seasoning.

He said further that feedback the company got from Nigerians proved that Mom’s curry came at the right time and it has come to stay as the Nigerian populace are

ready to make it their choice.

In addition, the National Sales Manager, Sunola Foods, Mr Adarsh Bhaskaran, said, “curry powder is a new product we are launching in the Nigeria market and it is a product for the masses. There would be display contest in various markets in the country starting with Lagos. This will allow the company to engage with consumes and traders across the country”.

Bhaskaran said that Mom’s curry packaged in Nigeria will compete favourably in the market. He also said, “if the company finds all the materials required for the production, it will product here in the future”.

L:R: Senior Brand Manager, Heineken, Mfon Bassey; Winner All Expense Paid Trip To UEFA Champions League 2019 Semi-Final, O n a r i Georgewill; Re g i o n a l B u s i n e s s Manager, N i g e r i a n Breweries Plc., Kola Oluborode at the Heineken U E F A Champions League premium viewing event in Lagos.

3Line commits to financial inclusion agenda for the unbanked

3LINE Card Management, an innovative fintech company is set to launch ‘SUSUBYU’, a digital saving product modelled on the traditional informal thrift savings in the first quarter this year.

SUSUBYU enables seamless daily contributory savings into the customer’s thrift saving account. It is one of the products of its Freedom Network in partnership with commercial and Microfinance banks. The Freedom network is a CBN licensed super-agent offering financial services through its agents across the country.

The platform was developed as part of its unswerving commitment

to provide seamless access to financial services for the financially excluded, as 3Line leverages technology to foster a safe, easy, robust, and efficient contributory savings scheme popularly known as Esusu, Adashe, & Ajo across Nigeria with ‘SUSUBYU’. The product also enables customers’ access to microloans instantly upon meeting the set criteria.

Operations Manager, 3Line, Sibigem Chibuzor, reiterated that 3Line is keen on impacting the people at the grassroots positively, making financial service conveniently available to them. He said that it has always been our goal

to reach the people at the grassroots to add sustainable value to their lives using technology. With our Freedom Network we develop platforms that allow the unbanked easily access basic financial services such as cashin/cash-out, funds transfer, bill payments, savings and more.

The Central Bank of Nigeria, (CBN) in 2018 licensed 3Line to operate as a super-agent in the nation’s financial services system in order to boost financial inclusion in Nigeria. Since then, 3Line has created innovative cutting edge solutions that have revolutionised retail financial services in Nigeria.

n its pursuit to remain a world leading feminine care brand, P&G recently launched a newer and more affordable Always sanitary pads, ‘Always Cotton Soft’ into the Nigerian market.

According to the Brand Manager, Always Nigeria, Funmi Adigolo, the new Always Cotton Soft is specially designed to be as soft as cotton to soothe the skin and afford users comfortable protection all day long. She stated that the product was made particularly for people who desire a soft and soothing feel from their pads so as to make their period a happier and more comfortable experience. “It is two times softer than our Always Classic thick pads with a very soft top sheet.

In addition, the Communications Manager, P&G, Nigeria, Tomiwa Ajewole, said that the new Always Cotton Soft is now available at an affordable price point of 250 Naira at most retail stores across Nigeria.

“While this is the recommended price, all pricing at the shelves is at the sole discretion of the retailers. He also mentioned that this launch is part of the company’s efforts to make everyday life a little better and easier for the average Nigerian female especially now when we all face pressing domestics needs with limited financial capacity.”

He also disclosed that the Always Cotton Soft is available nationwide in attractive pink packs of eight pads, in individual packs. “It comes in ‘long’ and ‘extra-long’ variants, giving users a choice to get the one that best suits them. As with other Always variants, the new Always Cotton Soft guarantees superior and comfortable protection for up to 8 hours .”

St arT imes and its next gener ation TTVV arTimes generation

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tarTimes is unveiling its latest product, the newest generation of television set, StarTimes Smart TV. Available in 2 sizes, 50 and 55 inches, StarTimes Smart TV offers the highest quality of pictures and sound, 4K Ultra HD and Dolby Surroung to give viewers an immersive experience.

4K Ultra HD resolution is having four times as many pixels as HD which completely changes the level of visual detail and clarity we’ve come to expect from TV screens.

According to the management source, whereas traditional HD is limited to 1920 vertical columns and 1080 horizontal rows of pixels, 4K Ultra HD has a total resolution of 3840 pixels by 2160 – a slightly smaller resolution than the 4,096 x 2,160 resolution seen on cinema screens.

“StarTimes Smart TV also connects you to online streaming, videos, games, music and much more.

Equipped with Bluetooth port, Ethernet port and built-in Wi-Fi, StarTimes Smart TV is able to connect Internet from anywhere in the house. This connection is used to stream television shows and movies as well to browse Internet.

The Smart TV comes with more than 100 popular applications, including YouTube, Deezer or TED. It offers also a series of free video games for adult or children.

With built-in DTT and Satellite TV (DTH) access, as well as Internet TV and over-the-top content (OTT), no need to buy a decoder anymore to access hundreds of channels and unlimited Internet content.

Controlling these rich features is more than easy with StarTimes Cast App. The smartphone becomes not only a remote controller but also a TV guide and a portal to share video, music, photos to the Smart TV.

Mustard Grain leadership master class hinges on national transformation peaker/trainer at Mustard Grain Projects, Ifedola Adeyemi has said that if Nigeria’s economy must attain an enviable position in the S world’s ranking, there is need to apply relevant principles that drive

transformation globally. This she said while addressing journalists to announce 2019 Leadership Master Class for global transformers in Lagos.

According to her, going by the present economic situation in the country, Nigeria has lost its position from what it used to be. She recommended Nigerians to embrace the right skills in order to attain real transformation.

“As part of its efforts to help the country boost its economy and by extension attain global transformational level, Mustard Grain Projects would begin its 2019 Leadership Master Class between April 1 and April 5, 2019, in Atlanta, United States”.

Adeyemi explained that the Leadership Masters Class which targets at preparing global transformers, will aim at personnel leadership, business and national transformation through various leadership models and processes.

These models according to her, would provide excellent world-views and highlight solution to ever-growing challenges in organisations, public offices and nation building.

Stressing on the need for national transformation in Nigeria, she said that if you look at the state of the economy right now, Nigeria has dropped in ranking in the commity of nations. “So there is a lot of work to be done.

There is no magic wand anywhere that will change everything. It starts with the people because people make up institutions, people make up government establishment, people make up businesses.

If you must have true transformation, you have to start with the people in businesses and government institutions, by equipping them with the right knowledge, right skills and understanding of the relevance principles in order to drive transformation in their own corner. An aggregation of all of these, build up to national transformation.

Participants at the five-day event she said, were drawn from West Africa, Southern and Eastern Africa, USA, the far East among others”.

Warri hosts ““The The Business W omen Women Connect” Conference non governmental organisation, “The Business Women Connect”, is A set to host its annual conference, billed for March 23, 2019 at the Brownhill Event Centre in Ogunu,Warri, Delta State.

The Business Women Connect tagged, “Ignite the Spark” will focus on empowering the upwardly mobile women in the Niger Delta with the essence of growing a formidable business on a global scale. The first conference was held in February 2018 with Mrs Adesuwa Onyenokwe and Tara Fele Durotoye as main speakers.

The 2019 conference speakers line up include, Ms Osayi Alile, CEO ACT Foundation, Arese Ugwu, Bestselling Author, The Smart Money Woman, Kathleen Erhimu, Group General Manager, Keystone Bank, Julia Oku Jacks, CEO Tree water Ltd, Ivie Martins, HR Consultant, Ejiro Amos Tafiri, Award winning Fashion Designer, Matse Uwatse Nnoli,Tricia Ikponmwonba, Business Growth Strategist Triciabiz and Lilian Oparaji, Head Stylist, Simply Lili4.

42—SA TURD AY Vanguard, MARCH 9, 42—SATURD TURDA

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2019

Oba TTejuoso ejuoso mar ks 8 1st bir thda marks 81 birthda thdayy

t was celebration galore in Oke-Ona, Egba, Ogun State when the monarch of the land, Oba Adewale Tejuoso celebrated his 81st birthday. In marking the day a thanksgiving ceremony tagged ‘Praise Unlimited 2019’ was held at Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library International Centre, OkeMosan, Abeokuta, Ogun State in honour of the monarch. Photos by Wumi Akinola

R-L: Ogun State CAN Chairman, Bishop Tunde Akinsanya; celebrant, Osile Oke-Ona-Egba, Oba Dr. Adewale Tejuoso; Iyalode Alaba Lawson, President, NACCIMA and Chief Doja Adewolu.

Cross section of the clergy at the event.

The Oba's queens (Oloris) L-R: Olori Omolara, Olori Yetunde and Olori Olabisi Tejuoso.

A gbede Community agog with free medical care.

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ortune smiled on several indigenes of Agbede Community and environs of Edo State as they provided with free medical care through which 100 free cataract surgeries; 250 reading glasses;500 free eye checks with free medications;800 free de-worming of medications to school pupils;200 free glaucoma screening and 200 free diabetic screening were carried out in one week.

This was made possible courtesy of the benevolence of 2 indigenes of Agbede; Messrs Elvis Adekunle Iginla, a Canada based attorney and Chief Bala Yesufu, Director,Corporate and Government Affairs (West Africa) Cadbury Nigeria Plc. A Medical Team led by Dr. Mejuyah Okorodudu of Africa Cataract and Eye Foundation carried out the medical solutions. The laudable medical outreach was in honour of late Alhaji Oga Momodu Yesufu, foremost Educationist in the then Kukuruku Province of Mid Western Region now Edo State.

L-R: Iyalode Alaba Lawson, President, NACCIMA, Senator Lanre Tejuoso Smile and celebrant, Oba Adedapo Tejuoso .

Ur hobo Social Club pa ys Ejoor’s wido w Urhobo pays widow condolence visit

L-R: Chief Bala Yesufu; Mrs.Folake Okorodudu;Gen. M.L Yesufu (Rtd) & Dr. Mejuyah Okorodudu.

M

embers of Urhobo Social Club, Lagos, and other prominent Urhobos recently paid a condolence visit to the family of the late General David Ejoor, foChiefof Army Staff (1971 - 1975).

A beneficiary of the free cataract treatment.

A cross section of the delegation

L-R: Widow of Gen Ejoor, Mrs. Mabel Ejoor; Prof Bruce Onobrakpeya; Prince Austin Enajemo-Isire; Mr. Goodie Ibru; Chief Johnson Barovbe; Chief Samson Okuesa and Chief Johnson Ojakovo.

L-R: Mr. Francis Ewherido, Chief Emmanuel Ogbon, Chief Simeon Ohwofa and Chief Joe Idudu.

A cross section of Agbede community leaders.

SATURDAY Vanguard, MARCH 9, 2019 — 43

Rivers Gov Poll: Court declines to disqualify Wike over alleged forgery

By Ikechukwu Nnochiri

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HE Abuja Division of the Federal High Court, on Friday, declined to disqualifyGovernorNyesom Wike of Rivers State from participating in Saturday’s governorship election, following allegation that he tendered forged documents to the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC. It was alleged that the birthday certificate governor Wike attached to the Form CF001hesubmittedtoINEC on November 2, 2018, for clearancetoparticipateinthe 2019 general election, was forged.

ThesuitmarkedFHC/ABJ /CS /1430/2018, was lodged before the court by one Mr. Elvis Chinda.

Cited as defendants in the matter were INEC, Wike, and the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP. The plaintiff, told the court that the certificate titled “Statutory Declaration of Age”, attached to Wike’s Form C.F.001, and purportedly deposed to on October 3, 1986, by one Collins Nyeme Wike had claimed that Nyesom Wike at the time of deposition, was a native of Rumuepirikom in Obio / Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers State.

According to the Plaintiff, “Asat3rdOctober1986,there was no local Government Area known as Obio /Akpor Local Government Area in existence in Rivers State.

“Asat1986,Rumuepirikom was not in Obio /Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers State , but in Port Harcourt Local Government Area of Rivers State being the parent LGAfromwhereObio/Akpor Local Government Area was carved out”.

He told the court that Obio /Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers State was createdin1989byDecreeNo 12 of 1989, two years after the alleged forgery was committed.

“That the certificate of birth ( Statutory Declaration of Age) was purported sworn to and issued at the High/ Magistrate’s Court Registry, Port Harcourt but allegedly bears stamp of the Judiciary Probate Registry ,Port Harcourt. “There was no Court Registry, whether in 1986 or afterward known as High/Magistrate Court Registry Port Harcourt. No such Registry existed or exists any where in Port Harcourt or Rivers State”.

Plaintiff said the forged certificate of birth misled INEC into believing that Wike had a genuine birth certificate that confirmed his alleged date of birth given as 13th March1963.

He alleged that Wike presented the bogus birth

From right: Bride's Father. Chief Supo Sonibare SAN (Afenifere Chieftain & SDP Chairman); groom's mother, Mrs. Funke Osibodu (former GMD/CEO Union Bank Pls); couples, Abimbola and Tobi; bride's mother, Mrs. Muni Sonibare (MD 10-10 Furniture) and groom's father, Mr. Victor Osibodu (Chairman,Vigeo Communication Limited); held at Catholic Church of Pepetual, Musa Yar'Adua, Victoria Island, Lagos State.

certificate to maintain consistency and coverup falsehood and lies, which he started in 1998.

He said the coverup, “began in 1989, when Wike expressed desire to contest for the local chairmanship of Obio/ Akpor Local Government Area Council election in Rivers State which INEC had fixed 35 years age for eligibility.

“Wike was 30 years of age then and ineligible for that election. In order to qualify forthatelection,heforgedthe Certificate of birth now in contention. He has used it in subsequent elections.”

The plaintiff argued that INEC, “is not in a position legally to disqualify Wike from contesting the governorship election except the court gave an order disqualifying him for the breach of Section 182 (1) (j) of the Constitution of Federal Republic of Nigeria”. Meanwhile, the court, in a judgment that was delivered by Justice Iyang Ekwo, dismissed the suit on the premise that the plaintiff failed to prove the allegation beyond reasonable doubt.

The court held that the allegation, being quasicriminal in nature, ought to be proved beyond every reasonable doubt, a burden it said the plaintiff filed to discharge against Wike.

“In our statutes, forgery is a criminal act. It entails the fraudulently making of a forged documents. It is a criminal offence. The onus is on the plaintiff to establish ingredients of the allegation withcredibleandconvincing evidence.

“I find that the plaintiff has not proved allegations against the 1st defendant beyond every reasonable doubt or at all”, the court held.

Aside stressing that a forensic expert ought to have confirmedthatthedocument was indeed forged, Justice Ekwo, noted that counsel to the plaintiff, had earlier filed

a similar suit in his own name.

He observed that after the matter was dismissed, the lawyer engaged the plaintiff to pursue the same case, despite the fact that he had also gone on appeal.

The court described the action as a “despicable act”, saying it amounted to gross abuse of the judicial process.

“The suit is entirely that of the plaintiff’s counsel, it is an action by proxy which amounts to sponsorship litigation which is a professional misconduct. “I find that this matter is an abuse of court process and I resolve this issue in favour of the 2nd and 3rd respondent”.

The court further relied on section 285 (9) of the 4th Alteration to the1999 Constitution and held that the suit had become status barred since it was not filed 14 days after Wike submitted the Form CF 001 to INEC. Besides, Justice Ekwo held that a copy of the alleged forged document the plaintiff tendered in court lacked credibility, saying there was nothing to show that it emanated from INEC. He held that the plaintiff failed to adduce any evidence to show that the

document was issued by INEC upon payment of the prescribed fee.

“None exhibition of the prescribed fee rendered the documentary evidence tendered by the plaintiff, worthless and it does not meet the evidential standard of admissibility.

“Affidavit evidence used by the plaintiff is incapable of establishing the intent of the 1st defendant in this case.

“There is no indication from the purported document with INEC’s stamp, indicating that it was the plaintiff that applied for it.

“I am unable to ascribe any value to the documentary evidence tendered by the plaintiff. I resolve every issue in favour of the 1st defendant and I make an order dismissing this case for lack of merit”, the court held.

The plaintiff had among other things, prayed the court to among other things, determine: “Whether the certificate of Birth titled Statutory Declaration of Age deposed to by one Collins Nyeme Wike purportedly sworn to on 3rd October 1986 at the High/ Court Magistrate’s Court Registry, Port Harcourt lied about/ against itself and contained falsehoods.

Plateau: INEC accused of excluding some polling units in election rerun

By Marie-Therese Nanlong

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HE Peoples Democratic Party, PDP in the Southern Senatorial zone of Plateau State has raised concern about the activity of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC in today’s election, saying if such was not checked, it was capable of shortchanging the people of the constituency.

There would be an election rerun for the Senatorial seat of the zone today as well as Governorship and House of Assembly election and the PDP is alleging lack of neutrality on the part of the State Resident Electoral Commissioner, REC. The Party’s Senatorial candidate, Peter Kefas and the Party’s Vice Chairman, Southern zone, Simon Domle expressed this view saying that the people would likely be shortchanged if the REC is not cautioned.

The duo complained about the exclusion of some polling units on the list released by INEC for the Senatorial rerun on Saturday.

Mr. Kefas, while speaking with journalists in Jos said, “We called you here to bring to the notice of the public certain anomaly that does not give room for fairness in the Senatorial rerun election coming up on Saturday. Of great concern to us is the exclusion of about five polling units by INEC. “These five polling units, two in Killar ward of Langtang North, one in Bolyah, Langtang South, one in Baltip, Mikang and one in Kadarko, Wase were included in the report submitted by the Electoral Officers, EOs in the affected local government areas as election could not hold either due to failure of card readers or violence as a result of gunshots. There is a Police report to that effect yet, for reasons best known to INEC, these areas were ignored.

“Failure to conduct rerun in these areas amounts to disenfranchisement of people of the affected areas which is an infringement on their constitutional right to vote. A situation where INEC is seen as an arm of the ruling APC government is bad for our democracy, INEC must be seen to be fair to all parties.

“We call on INEC as a matter of justice and fairness, to restore the excluded polling units as contained in the reports of the Local government Electoral Officers before the Saturday rerun. We call on security agencies particularly the Nigerian Army to be neutral and professional in their duties, we are ready for the rerun but plead with INEC to be fair to all parties.”

The State Head, Voters’ Education and Publicity, Osaretin Imahierobo said “INEC only worked with report submitted by the Electoral Officers of the respective local government areas.”

N’Delta agitators caution Nigerian Army on polls

By Emma Amaize, Regional Editor, South-South

A

CTIVISTS under aegis of 21st Century Youths of Niger Delta and Agitators with Conscience, yesterday, declared Operation Good over Evil in the Niger Delta region, issuing a notice to the Nigerian Army that they would not accept soldiers doing the bidding of any political party in today’s Gubernatorial and state House of Assembly elections.

The youths in a communiqué by self-styled “General” Izon Ebi, issued after an emergency meeting in Ikot Abasi, Akwa Ibom state, to review the just concluded Presidential/National Assembly polls and today’s polls, said, “We have decided to declare Operation Good over Evil in the Niger Delta region since the Nigerian Army has reduced itself to partisanship and election rigging.”

“We, therefore, use this medium to advise the Nigerian Army to stay clear from our electoral process and concentrate on its mandate of protecting lives, properties and territory integrity of Nigeria.

“The Niger Delta people must be allowed to freely choose their leaders to represent them. We are not going to tolerate the use of the Nigerian Army in any in our election process. We will not tolerate the snatching of ballot boxes and intimidation of our people.

“We condemn the plan of invasion and capture of the Niger Delta states by the APC and the Nigerian Army.

44— SATURDAY Vanguard, MARCH 9, 2019

Martial fit to face Arsenal Martial has not played since nthony Martial is available suffering a groin strain during A to make his return from first leg of United’s last-16 injury in Manchester United’s crucial Premier League encounter away to Arsenal on Sunday, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has confirmed.

Champions League tie against Paris Saint- Germain on February 12.

Nemanja Matic is also set to

Egbunike, Chidi Imoh, and so on. These athletes made up the best years of Nigerian sports development in Track and field, and Nigeria was poised to take over global sprinting and jumping.

Lee Evans’ departure was Nigeria’s loss and Jamaica’s gain because he joined the team of American coaches that turned sprinting into the break and breakfast of descendants of a Black race of West African slaves in that Caribbean country.

Today, Jamaica has transformed into the sprinting capital of the world. Lee Evans recalled how he realized that Black American athletes in track and field must share the same DNA as his brothers and sister in West Africa, and how it just made sense that West African athletes would make excellent sprinters too in the world.

His simple thinking became the tool needed to start the production line of African athletes for almost two decades in the 1970s up to the 1990s – athletes of distinction, with one or two of them always in the final line up of every international sprinting event and championship in the world in the 1970s, 80s and even early 1990s.

Lee Evans travelled around Africa scouting for talent and developing them. For a while he returned to the American Collegiate system, but his love for Africa, and Nigeria in particular, where he believes his ancestors must have come from, brought him back some years ago. He

teamed up with Dr. Bruce Ijirigho to develop Track and Field athletics in Akwa Ibom State for about three years. The project was on the trajectory of monumental success when Lee had to leave.

I ran into him again, took him to my friend, the Governor of Lagos at the time, Babatunde Fashola, who recognized the unique opportunity presented the State, hired him immediately and charged him to revolutionise track and Field athletes amongst young students in Lagos State.

That romance never left the tarmac. Rather than learn from the athletics guru, local technicians became envious, set him up, and turned his dream into a nightmare from which he almost lost his life and his global reputation.

Lee has refused to leave Nigeria without first clearing his name.

I cannot delve into that murky and shameful matter because it is in court. But those of us that have known Lee since his early days of serving Nigeria, and his passion and love for sports and Nigerian athletes, know the truth of his matter and will continue to support him until he gets justice.

He returned from a short trip to Liberia last week and told me about the incredible transformation going on in Liberia under new President, former International football legend, George Opong Weah.

That lifted my spirit. Weah is on an incredible mission that will impact the future of more Sportsmen in politics.

Lee cannot wait for me to become Governor of Ogun State, with my vision to make the State the Mecca of sports development in Africa, as well as the epicenter of new Black Civilisation in the world.

He sees a link between what I am touting and the dream of millions of African Americans and other Blacks around the world who want to relate with and return on visits to, or help development through investment, their motherland.

He is already gathering an army of Black friends and brethren from around the world for the great ‘migration’ back to their roots for investment, recreation and historic purposes.

Somehow, I have a feeling that Lee and I could easily be blood brothers. For that reason, I am thinking…Wasimi could become his final ‘home’. Here he will have the opportunity and environment to do what he knows to do best – teach, coach and breed a new generation of Nigerian sprinters for years to come.

Lee Evans Coming back to your roots!

By Olusegun Odegbami

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ee Evans was on Nigerian television last Thursday night. He was the special guest on The Sports Parliament, the weekly diet of the best entertaining and educative sports conversation on Africa’s largest television network, the NTA. For a man who turned 72 only a few days ago, one who had gone through some of the best and worst experiences in his sports career in a country he loves with all his heart and has demonstrated it throughout almost five decades of a staggered relationship with Nigeria, Lee was looking very good, young and fresh, his clean-shaven head making him look even ten years younger, and his face obviously not reflecting the anguish he has passed through these past 5 years, in particular. But that’s an issue for another day for I will not go into the meat of his travails in Nigeria in this period.

Unrelentingly though, he has vowed to remain in the country and fight his cause with his last breath till he finds justice, clears his name and restores his hardearned reputation. In an environment with people that had no appreciation of his history and his accomplishments, ignorant of his global worth, jealous of the recognition and the assignment given to him, out of jealousy they set out to ruin the global reputation of a most illustrious Black man that did so much for Nigeria, Africa and the Black race during a period when I was a personal witness.

By the way, Lee Evans is a legendary African American track and field athlete with two Olympic Gold medals, the games and a world record to his name that remained unbroken for over two decades before it was finally shattered by the incomparable Michael Johnson.

Lee’s record in the 400 metres event may actually be the longest in athletic history. Yet, he was only 21 years old at the time of the Mexico Olympics in 1968.

He recalls with nostalgia that all the Black athletes running for the United States of America at the time were all students like him in American Colleges and universities. Lee was in his final year studying Physical and Health Education.

That was the era of the Black Civil Rights movement and struggle in American history, the year Martin Luther King was assassinated and Black consciousness was at its peak.

That was the year of the raised fist by athletes at the Olympic Games following in the tradition of the Black Panther Movement that was in the vanguard of the fight against discrimination, oppression, and mental slavery of Blacks in America.

Last Thursday night, Lee recalled those days – how they mentally reconnected with their African roots, and became even more determined to use sports to make a global statement in equality, and to conquer the world. The realization of their genetic links with West Africa in particular, was additional incentive and motivation for them to win laurels and connect with Africa.

Some years after the Olympics, the elements took control and from the blues Lee received an invitation from a man he had never met, a Nigerian who had trained in the United States and

Lee Evans

was teaching sports at the University of Ife then, to come and coach Nigerian students in his university. The gentleman was Mr. Isaac Akioye.

Lee told the circumstances of his eventual coming to Nigeria at the invitation of another young Nigerian Colonel in the Nigerian Army then, Colonel Joe Garba, who was chairman of the Nigeria Basketball Association. The Colonel had employed some American basketball coaches to come and revolutionise the sport in Nigeria and Lee had come along to provide the athletic side of the training. Shortly after he arrived he switched camps to his first love, Track athletics, and responded to Mr. Isaac Akioye’s invitation.

That’s how he took over teaching sports and training athletes over from Akioye at the University of Ife when he was posted to Lagos to head the new National Sports Commission established the drive the fastest sports development program in Africa. All of that was from 1975!

Lee Evans was a part of the great sports renaissance in Nigeria through the mid-1970s to early 1980s. For those who can remember, the product of his work remains some of the best chapters in our sports history, and most of Nigeria’s greatest sprinters were his handiwork – Kola Abdullahi, Felix Imabiyi, Dele Udoh, Taiwo Ogunjobi, Gloria Ayanlaja, and so on, up to the era of a younger generation of Henry Amike, Innocent

Marcelo, Juve agree terms Mourinho praises Solskjaer

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arcelo has reportedly agreed terms to join Juventus this summer on a fouryear deal and reunite with his old friend Cristiano Ronaldo in Turin after growing disillusioned with life at Real Madrid.

The Brazilian full back has lost his place to academy graduate Sergio Reguilónand missed out on the latest Brazil squad, with Tite presumably not overly impressed with the veteran’s lack of playing time at the Bernabéu. And with Madrid’s season going from bad to worse this week, Marcelo has apparently decided to make the move to Juventus and has agreed to put pen to paper on a four-year contract worth 12 million euros a season, according to Italian daily La Stampa.

The Brazilian full back has lost his place to academy graduate Sergio Reguilónand missed out on the latest Brazil squad, with Tite presumably not overly impressed with the veteran’s lack of playing time at the Bernabéu.

J

ose Mourinho says Manchester United’s “phenomenal” Champions League victory against Paris Saint-Germain is testament to the impact his successor Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has enjoyed.

The dramatic win followed Ajax’s shock success at another of the Portuguese’s former clubs Real Madrid and speaking to RT, he was asked to choose his ‘Special One’ from the midweek European matches.

“In terms of players, I was immediately thinking about [Dusan] Tadic, because he was a key player in that amazing match,” Mourinho said.

“But I think independent of the performances, Ajax and

return after missing three games with a muscle injury, while fellow midfielder Ander Herrera could also be available after recovering from a hip problem.

“Anthony will be available and hopefully we will have Nemanja and or Ander ready as well,” Solskjaer said.

“So we’re looking better for it.

“They just need to have another couple of days training with the team.

They ’ve done well in their recovery work.”

Oboh fights against violence during elections

Oboh

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or mer British and Commonwealth lightheavy weight champion, Peter Oboh has urged Christians and Muslims to pray for a violencefree and credible Governorship and House of Assembly elections today.

He also called on voters to come out en masse to exercise their civic responsibilities by voting for the candidate of their choice.

In a signed message yesterday, Oboh said, ‘’whenever you decide not to exercise your civic responsibility by not voting during election, automatically you are counting yourself among the minority. But when you decide to exercise your right to vote, then you are not far from the winning party.

“Nigerians who are eligible to vote should come out today to exercise their civic responsibilities. I also want to urge Nigerians not to take advantage of today’s elections to cause havoc to rival candidates and their supporters. No election is worth the blood of any Nigerian because when it happens the essence of democracy is being defeated, “Oboh said.

SATURDAY Vanguard, MARCH 9, 2019 — 45

Why Madrid suffered their darkest night in Champions League history

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he poison of blame, recrimination and scapegoating was already flowing through the veins of Madridismo — the collective noun encompassing the hefty slice of humanity that swears loyalty to that other White House, on La Castellana avenue in the Spanish capital — before they even stepped on the pitch for what would be Real Madrid’s darkest night in Champions League history.

Two defeats — at home in the past week — to archrival Barcelona, the yin to their yang, had meant Real Madrid were out of the Spanish Cup and, barring divine intervention, out of the race for the Spanish title. The Champions League was all they had left. It is the biggest prize in the club game and a competition they had won four times in the past five years. Making it five out of six seemed unthinkable, but then, so did winning three straight, and they had managed that feat the year before. In a season when there is no dominant European club, Real Madrid had reason to hope despite their struggles elsewhere.

Real’s European dreams were bolstered by the unlikeliest of opponents in this round of 16. Ajax is a historical giant of football — only five teams have won more European Cups — albeit in the way General Electric is a historical giant of industry: the game has evolved, the revenues that grease the machines flow to the big clubs in the big leagues.

Ajax hadn’t even qualified for the Champions League for the past four seasons, and the last time they even reached the round of 16 of the competition was 13 years

ago, when more than half of their starting lineup was in elementary school. More importantly, the first leg, in Amsterdam, had finished with a 2-1 Real Madrid victory — they hadn’t played well, but they had won because, well, that’s what winners do — and that meant that Madrid could win, draw or even lose the game 1-0 and still advance to the quarterfinals.

Instead the bottom fell out. The game kicked off and within 20 minutes Ajax were 2-0 up. By the 62nd minute, Real Madrid trailed by three goals, meaning (because of the away goals rule) they would have to score three to advance.

When they pulled one back to narrow the deficit, Ajax immediately hit back with an improbable looping free kick to make it 4-1. Which is how it ended, though by that point much of Europe’s largest stadium had emptied, expelling sullen, whiteclad Madridistas into the night.

As upsets go, this wasn’t Buster Douglas knocking out Mike Tyson in Tokyo. This was more like the quiet, scrawny young buck challenging the Alpha Male and forcing him out of the pack. Partly through his fresh legs and fearlessness, partly because his opponent doesn’t realize he’s a little less quick and less fierce and a little too arrogant.

Exhibit A in the arrogance file is captain Sergio Ramos. He picked up a yellow card in the first leg — his third of the tournament, meaning he was suspended for this game — and later boasted that he had done it intentionally.

“I’d be lying if I said I didn’t force [them to give me a yellow],” Ramos said, knowing he’d serve his suspension in the second leg

•Benzema

•Vinicius

against Ajax and therefore be available for the quarterfinal.

Ramos later retracted his comments, but UEFA, the game’s governing body, wasn’t impressed and slapped him with an additional one-game suspension.

That sort of attitude — from your longtime club captain no less — percolates throughout a side. But it’s only a small part of the picture.

The stock explanation is that

Real Madrid’s early exit — the first time they’ve failed to reach the quarterfinals in nine years — is partly due to the summer departures of coach Zinedine Zidane and Cristiano Ronaldo, who decamped to Juventus. But that’s simplistic. Ronaldo is staring down the barrel of an early Champions League exit, too, with Juve trailing Atletico Madrid by two goals. As for Zidane, the reality is that last season’s Champions League crown was a

Eight reasons behind PSG’s failure to Man Utd asser Al-Khelaifi’s Paris Saint-German project has N failed to produce on the European

stage for another season.

The French club have fallen at the last 16 stage for the third year in a row after letting their first-leg lead slip against Manchester United.

Huge Qatari investment has seen the club dominate domestically with five league titles in the last six years, as well as 15 other trophies.

However, despite the success in their own country PSG haven’t come close to lifting their main objective, the Champions League.

Here, we take a look at eight reasons behind their continental failure.

Marquinhos in midfield Despite all this spending, Thomas Tuchel found himself having to use Marquinhos in a central midfield role alongside Marco Verratti.The German manager asked for two out of Idrissa Gueye, Abdoulaye Doucoure, Thiago Mendes and Leandro Paredes to be signed, with only the latter arriving in January.Marquinhos has coped well with his new position, but during matches against Liverpool and Manchester United his lack of experience in the role has been evident.

Back luck with injuries In the last two seasons, PSG have been fairly unfortunate with injuries to their most important players.Record signing Neymar spent large parts of the last campaign on the sidelines, with history repeating itself this season as well.Both Neymar and Edinson Cavani were missing in the first leg of the Manchester United tie, with the Uruguayan only returning to play the closing stages of the return leg.Manchester United, though, were just as unlucky with injuries of their own, visiting the Parc de

Princes without 10 of their senior players.

Inability to close out results PSG were the first team in history to have given up a fourgoal lead in the first leg when they were beaten 6-1 by Barcelona at the Camp Nou in 2017.Now they’ve become the first team in history to give up a two-goal advantage going into the second leg at home by losing 3-1 against the Red Devils.This failure to secure results and defend a lead is a trait the French champions will have to leave behind if they’re going to win Europe’s biggest prize.

Lack of a clear first-choice goalkeeper Salvatore Sirigu, Kevin Trapp, Alphonse Areola and Gianluigi Buffon have all tried and failed to become the reliable hands between the sticks for PSG.Tuchel still hasn’t made up his mind when it comes to his first-choice goalkeeper, with Areola and Buffon rotating often this season.Buffon’s mistake allowed Romelu Lukaku to get Manchester United’s second goal and the Italian ended up costing his side.

Lack of competition in France PSG’s easy ride in domestic competition acts as a disadvantage when it comes to competing in

Europe.Before their defeat to Guingamp in the Coupe de la Ligue this season, PSG had won three consecutive titles in both the Coupe de France and Coupe de la Ligue.In Ligue 1, they are currently 17 points ahead of second-place Lille with 11 games to go.

Unbalanced squad As it often is with large amounts of spending, most of the money is spent on players in attacking departments rather than in defence.Both Tuchel and his predecessor Unai Emery have had problems fitting Kylian Mbappe, Neymar, Cavani and Angel Di Maria into one team.The need to play Marquinhos in midfield and youngster Thilo Kehrer in defence has proved that more focus should be put on those behind the forward positions in the transfer market.

No backup for Cavani With Cavani out injured, Mbappe was forced to occupy a central position in PSG’s attack due to the lack of a No.9 like-for-like replacement.Eric-Maxim ChoupoMoting is the only player that is used to playing as a striker, but the summer signing from Stoke didn’t play at all against Manchester United.

The Adrien Rabiot situation The French midfielder has been left out of Tuchel’s plans for the rest of the season having declared his intention to leave the club at the end of the season.Rabiot’s refusal to sign a new contract has seen him relegated to the train with the reserve teams and, having not been picked up by another club in January, this problem will remain until the summer.

smoke-and-mirrors affair.

Real Madrid finished the 201718 season third in La Liga, a whopping 17 points off the pace.

In the Champions League, they suffered through the knockout stage, particularly at home, at the Bernabeu, a place where the crowd are quick to turn. “They are like the crowd at the Opera. They have very high standards, and they will gladly boo if you don’t meet them ... regardless of whether you win, draw or lose” said Carlo Ancelotti, who won the Champions League with Real Madrid in 2013-14, kicking off this cycle of success.

Real Madrid were outplayed for long stretches at home by Paris Saint-Germain, they lost 3-1 to Juventus (and only advanced thanks to a last-ditch penalty) and in the semifinals against Bayern, they were the beneficiaries of major a goalkeeping blunder. In fact, they have now lost three of their last 10 home games in the Champions League and the last four straight in all competitions.

You wonder if, for all the experience out there, performance anxiety played a part too.

Truth be told, the club did realize that a rebuild was necessary after last season. It’s just that, as so often happens in every sport, if you do it cautiously, try to reload instead and put your faith in the wrong players, you pay a price.

Julen Lopetegui, the “system” manager chosen to replace the more orthodox Zidane, had a poor start to the season and was fired after 14 games. Rising stars like Isco, Marco Asensio and Dani Ceballos did not immediately go to the next level, for a variety of reasons. Veterans like Karim Benzema and Gareth Bale, who were meant to blossom now that they were out of Ronaldo’s shadow, wilted instead, particularly the Welshman: Once the most expensive player in the world, now Bale is a figure of scorn at the Bernabeu.

This is the end of a cycle that, probably, should have ended a year ago but was extended thanks to the unique combination of talent and experience, spit and gravel. With nothing left to play for, Real Madrid now embark on their longest offseason in 42 years.

That’s the last time they were out of the running in every competition in early March. As defender Dani Carvajal said after the match, Real’s “s— season” is over.

46 — SATURDAY Vanguard, MARCH 9, 2019

Iheanacho risks AFCON 2019 exclusion •Has a season to forget after Eagles snub

•Iheanacho

By John Egbokhan

I

t’s been a season to forget for Leicester City striker, Kelechi Iheanacho, whose stock continues to drop following his exclusion from the Super Eagles squad for this month’s AFCON qualifier against Seychelles and a high profile international friendly with

Egypt at the Stephen Keshi Stadium, Asaba, Delta State.

The out of form Foxes forward is a regular for the Eagles, since bursting onto the limelight after his exploits with the Golden Eaglets at the FIFA U-17 World Cup in the United Arab Emirates in 2013, going up pocket 23 caps for the three-time African champions, despite

being just 22 years of age.

But failure to find the back of the net for Nigeria and Leicester City since September of 2018,, it seems that the end is coming all too soon for a player who emerged top scorer at UAE 2013 and was tipped to become the next big star of world football, whose national team coach, Gernot Rohr, has wielded the big

Joshua will be knocked out

by Miller —Wilder andicappers have made Anthony Joshua at least an 8-1 H favorite over Jarrell Miller. Deontay Wilder thinks those experts have underestimated Miller, who’ll challenge Joshua for

his heavyweight titles June 1 at Madison Square Garden in New York. The unbeaten WBC heavyweight champion is convinced that the 6-feet-4, 315-pound Miller can upset the 6-feet-6, 245-pound Joshua when they meet in a DAZN main event for the English icon’s IBF, IBO, WBA and WBO titles.

Miller is a tough volume puncher who has displayed a reliable chin, sturdy enough, according to Wilder, to withstand Joshua’s power for 12 rounds and win a decision.

“I think he’s got a good chance,” Wilder told BoxingScene.com. “I do. I don’t think Joshua has a tough style to fight against. I mean, you done seen many of his previous opponents – you know, if it wasn’t for the ref, we probably could’ve seen different results in the fight. Especially in the [Joseph] Parker fight, that referee was horrible. That was horrible. The [Carlos] Takam fight, too. But I do give Jarrell a chance to beat him, especially if he can get him to the stage of where [Joshua] gets real fatigued, like Klitschko had him, on the ropes.

“I think if he gets fatigued, Jarrell will finish him off. I can see Jarrell winning by points and maybe even, you know, sneaking in there and knocking him out. But I can see Joshua knocking him out for sure. I can see him knocking [Miller] out more than I can see him winning on points. But I can see Jarrell Miller winning by decision and I can see Anthony Joshua winning by knockout.”

as permanent manager until the end of the season.

Neville spoke glowingly of his former team-mate, he urged United to wait before giving Solskjaer a full-time contract.

“As a supporter, it feels like we’ve got our Manchester United back,” Neville told Adrian Durham and

Darren Gough on Drive.

“Ole’s done an unbelievable job.

He’s embraced everything and let the players play with a smile on their face.

“United’s not about the results, United is about seeing a team fight and seeing a team play right up to the very last minute, with a togetherness and a spirit.

“Everything that he’s done has been right. He’s getting every ounce

during his time on the pitch, labouring in vain to cancel out the home side’s lead.

Ridiculously, the for mer Manchester City striker, who was shipped out by Pep Guardiola from the Citizens squad, has earned 30 appearances for City this season, scoring just two goals, one in the Premier League.

His last featured match for the Super Eagles was in November 2018, when Nigeria played a barren draw with Uganda, who like the Eagles, have qualified for the 2019 African Cup of Nations, set to hold in Egypt from June.

In search of clinical strikers, who will repay his faith in him with goals for the Super Eagles, Rohr has beamed his strikers searchlight to as many as eight forward players with familiar faces, comprising Ahmed Musa, Odion Oghalo, Alex Iwobi, Henry Onyekuru, Rotherham United’s Semi Ajayi and Stoke’s Oghenekaro Etebo, a development that leaves Iheanacho facing a possible exclusion from the 2019 AFCON team to Egypt.

Lobi face crunch time against Sundowns

L

•Joshua

Man Utd should wait before appointing Solksjaer —Neville hil Neville insists Manchester United should P not appoint Ole Gunnar Solskjaer

stick on, by not naming him in the 23-man team for the two matchers during the upcoming FIFA international window.

And Iheanacho’s situation becomes all too precarious given that his Leicester teammate, Wilfred Ndidi, makes the national team grade having been left out last time around because of suspension, occasioned by getting a yellow card,. In fairness to Ndidi, the midfielder has been a solid when in action for both club and country, posting great ,performance in the team’s last Premier League tie with Watford, which they lost 2-1.

Ndidi was rated high by commentators for his good display in the game. He was very busy mopping up possession and sniffing out danger in front of his central defenders. He was one of Leicester ’s more effective players as they chased the game.. He was scored eight points from a maximum While Ndidi was blossoming in the sunshine Spring against Watford, Iheanacho, who came in for Jamie Vardy on 82 minutes, did not get a sight of the goal,

of ability and effort out of these players. Management isn’t all about tactics; it’s about managing a set of players to get the best out of them.

“Part of me says don’t give [the permanent job] to him yet.

Everything’s going really well, don’t spoil it. Just let the players keep fighting for him. I think it’s impossible not to give him the job.

That’s my opinion. But why not just keep this momentum going and keep this bandwagon going?”

obi Stars face a daunting task today when they battle Mamelodi Sundowns in Match Day Five of the Caf Champions League group stage.

The Nigerians won the first leg 2-1 thanks to goals from Yaya Kone and Mathias, however, the return leg is a crucial one as they must avoid defeat to stand a chance of qualifying.

Th is is the second time these teams will be meeting and victory for the South Africans would mean that Lobi Stars are one leg out of the championship.

Pitso Mosimane has discussed what the effect of a midweek loss has to their title challenge, although stating that they have a more important encounter today against Lobi.

However, despite the race for the Absa Premiership league title heating up, Sundowns will have to turn all their attention to this weekend’s CAF Champions League encounter against Lobi Stars at the Loftus Versfeld Stadium.

“It’s bigger than this one,” Mosimane said.

Speaking to the media, Mosimane discussed their Champions League run, while admitting that he was not too worried about last night’s Absa Premiership result and what it did to their title challenge.

“We still have eight games; we are (getting) there, no one is going to win eight games in a row. I think Cape Town City

might win the league also, why not? They put themselves in the pool so I wish them all the luck to win the league,” Mosimane told the media.

“But, we have a bigger game hey, a national agenda that one, it puts a star on top of the badge hey,” he added, as Sundowns look to secure a win over Lobi Stars this weekend to make their trip to Morocco stress-free.

“No, they are experienced,” Mosimane said when asked about having to pick up his side’s confidence after a midweek defeat.

“They know that they have to turn the volume on, on Saturday, different game, Nigeria is going to sit in like the way Bloemfontein parked the bus.

“It’s a big one, if you win this one you don’t have to win in Wydad to go through, it’s a big one,” he added.

Man Utd fan has surgery after Sky Sports News has been told Paris stabbing the driver pulled over to get them

Manchester United fan is A having emergency surgery in Paris after being stabbed in the

chest by a taxi driver following Wednesday night’s Champions League match The 44-year-old was travelling back to the city centre after the game with three other supporters when the driver took offence to them singing in celebration of United’s dramatic late winner.

out of his taxi, before pulling out a knife and threatening the female passenger in the group.

The victim tried to intervene to protect her, but the driver then turned the knife on him, stabbing him in the chest with what’s been described as ‘a large blade’.

He was left lying on the pavement fighting for his life, when one of the group was able to flag down a passing car and rush him to hospital

SATURDAY Vanguard, MARCH 9, 2019—47

Alli set to return against Southampton D

ele Alli hopes to re turn from injury at Southampton this weekend, in what would be a significant boost for Tottenham and England.

Alli has not played since suffering a hamstring strain — his third since the World Cup — in the win at Fulham on January 20 but returned to training this week, and remained at Hotspur Way to

work on conditioning while the squad were in Dortmund.

He will be assessed ahead of the trip to St Mary’s, where an appearance would increase his chances of being in Gareth Southgate’s squad for the European Championship qualifying double-header against against the Czech Republic at Wembley on March 22 and in Montenegro three days later.

Betting begins on next Real Madrid coach

R

eal Madrid’s elimination from the Champions League at the hands of Ajax has brought yet another storm to the Estadio Santiago Bernabeu and it seems clear that Santiago Solari will not be in charge next season.

Supporters are demanding radical change and all signs point towards a change on the bench.

One name stands above the rest as clear favourite now, with Jose Mourinho’s name trading at 1.70 per euro bet and the Portuguese has already expressed an openness to making a return.

Next on the list of favourites is Tottenham boss Mauricio Pochettino, who has guided the Londoners to the quarter-finals of the The 21st of February, 2019, marked the 20th anniversary of DejiAliu’s 60m National Record, and his 50m African Record. Considering that we are still in the indoor season (at least for athletes based abroad), I felt it would be worthwhile to dedicate today ’s column to Aliu who is one of only eight men from Nigeria to have ever run under 10sec in the men’s 100m. He is also ranked the 6th fastest Nigerian in the 200m on the all-time list.

Aliu belongs to the distinguished class of Nigerian athletes who made the country proud during their days and gave the sport their all. He rose through the ranks, emerging World Junior Champion in the men’s 100m at the World U20 Championships in Portugal in 1994, and won a Silver medal in the 200m as well.

Five years later, he performed the outstanding feat of racing to the African Record in the 50m while competing in the Meeting Pas de CalaisinLiévin, France, clocking a time of 5.61sec.

Later that day, he stormed to a Nigerian Record of 6.48sec in the 60m. Both records still stand.

Aliu recollects how he felt on that day: “It was more like a double celebration for me because in the morning of that day, I set the African Record in the 50m, so my expectations were high that if I could replicate what I did in the morning, I should be able to do something spectacular in the afternoon, and that was exactly what happened. I was very happy because every time you

•Jose Champions League. His price is currently 4.00 but getting him out of his contract at Spurs is an obstacle that will be hard to overcome

•Sterling

•Alli

Leicester v Fulham:

Vardy to play with stitches in tongue L

eicester City striker Jamie Vardy will be fit to face Fulham torday despite a heavy collision with Ben Foster in the 2-1 defeat to Watford last weekend.

Although Vardy showed few ill effects – scoring City's goal against the Hornets – boss Brendan Rodgers has revealed that his striker had to have stitches in his tongue as a result of the collision.

But, Rodgers added that his no.9 would be to fit to play against the relegationbattling Cottagers in the his first match in the King Power Stadium's home dugout.

“He’s fine, he obviously took a bad knock,” said Rodgers.

“Jamie had a couple of stitches in his tongue as well as part of the collision he had last weekend.

“But he is fine. He’s trained well and we have another 24 hours to go, but he will be fine

Celebrating one of Nigeria’s Athletics icons, DejiAliu set records, you should be happy.

“However I didn’t celebrate the 20th anniversary of the record because records are meant to be broken, but it’s nice looking back at something that still gives you joy and a good memory of the past. Honestly I didn’t expect the record to stand till this time but someone will definitely break it,”he said.

Divine Oduduru came close to the record a few weeks back after running a time of 6.52sec to win the 60m title at the Big 12 Indoor Championships. He will also aim to break the record this weekend at the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Indoor Championships, and Aliu believes anything is possible.

“Anything is possible! At the time I was expecting OlusojiFasuba to break the record, he came very close

(6.49sec). When I saw Divine’s time at the Big 12 Championships, it raised my hopes. He looks good; if what he did some weeks ago is anything to go by, the record is in big trouble.”

Aliu represented Nigeria at the Commonwealth Games in 2002 where he narrowly missed the podium after placing 4th. He also finished 5th at the IAAF World Championships the following year. However, he is best remembered for his exploits at the 2003 All-African Games hosted by Nigeria. Having won the 100m at the National Championships with the first sub-10sec of his career (9.98sec), Aliu dominated the rest of the continent in the 100m final, lowering his time to a Personal Best (PB) of 9.95sec to win GOLD ahead of teammate UchennaEmedolu.

for the weekend. “(The stitches) were just through the collision – it hasn’t stopped him talking, mind.”

•Vardy

A year later, he joined forces with OlusojiFasuba, Emedolu and Aaron Egbeleto win a Bronze medal in the men’s 4x100m relay at the 2004 Olympics in Athens.

Aliu has since moved into coaching and now serves as the Head Coach of Making of Champions, an Athletics Club based in Lagos which has produced the likes of Joy udoGabriel who won a Bronze medal in the women’s 4x100m at the Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast, and a Bronze medal in the 100m at the African Championships in Asaba.

Aliu admits that he still misses his active days as an athlete, but is hoping to raise athletes that will break his records, should Oduduru miss the 60m record this weekend.

Southgate tips Sterling for Player of the Year award

E

ngland manager Gareth Southgate believes the ‘incredible’ Raheem Sterling should be considered a candidate for PFA Player of the Year.

In an exclusive interview with talkSPORT, Southgate spoke glowingly of the Manchester City winger, who has undoubtedly been one of the Premier League’s standout performers this season.

“The thing that stands out with Raheem is his tenacity,” Southgate told Adrian Durham and Darren Gough on Drive.

“His recovery from setbacks and his resilience and proving people wrong – he’s always responding in the right way to those challenges. It’s incredible.

He’s gone to a big club [Liverpool] when he was very young and dealt with that.

“Another big move to City, adapted to that. They sign new players every summer and you’d think his place was under threat, but he’s come through that. I think he’s had a phenomenal season. He’s got to be one of the candidates for player of the year.”

“I miss every bit of my active days, and that’s why most times I try to get involved with my athletes, train with them and try to feel that sense of training again. Right now I’m into coaching. I’m trying to enjoy every bit of it and the good part is I am blessed with very gifted and talented athletes, so it’s been fun all the way.

“Someone was asking me some questions some time ago, lamenting about the fact that for some time now nobody has done a sub-10, so I told him that they are probably still waiting for one of my athletes to pave the way and run a sub10sec. I believe that’s what is going to happen in the 100m, and that one of them will also break my record in the 60m hopefully.”

SATURDAY Vanguard, MARCH 9, 2019

ACROSS 1)Ivory Coast’s President, Mr. Alassane – (8) 5)Greek Alphabet (3) 7)Former United States President, Mr. George – (4) 8)Autonomous Community in Osun State (8) 10)Former Italian Deputy Prime Minister, Mr. Massimo – (6) 11)L.G.A in Borno State (3) 12)United States Senate Majority Whip, Mr. John – (6) 15)Lesotho’s Capital City (6) 17)Gabon “Panthers” Central Midfielder, Mario – (6) 19)L.G.A in Katsina State (6) 22)Public Relations Officer, Nigerian Police Force (NPF) Headquarters, Mr. Frank – (3) 23)Attorney-General & Minister of Justice, Mr. Abubakar – (6) 24)Former Edo State Head of Service, Mr. Anthony – (7) 26)Strategy (4) 27)Japanese Prime Minister, Mr. Shinzo

– (3) 28)English Town (8) DOWN 1)Media Officer, Nigerian Basketball Federation (NBBF), Mr. Afolabi – (3) 2)Plateau State Deputy Governor, Professor Sonni – (6) 3)Chairman, Agbado/Oke-Odo Local Council Development Area in Lagos State, Comrade Augustine Adeoye – (6) 4)L.G.A in Benue State (6) 5)Divisional Head of Trading Business, Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), Mr. Jude – (8) 6)Ecuadorian Province (8) 9)Flying Eagles (U-20) Striker, Ahmad – (4) 12)American City & State Capital (8) 13)South Africa “Banyana Banyanese” Striker, Lebogang – (8) 14)Japanese Currency (3) 16)Former Senate President, Mr. Iyorchia – (3) 18)France “Ligue 1” Club-Side (5) 19)MD/CEO, National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA), Dr. Olorunnimbe – (6) 20)Macedonian Capital City (6) 21)United States Director, Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI), Mr. Christopher Asher – (4) 25)Evergreen Shrub (3)

CROSS WORD PUZZLE

SOLUTION TO PUZZLE ON PAGE 47

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